Saint Tabitha (Dorcas)

Life story

The whole story of Tabitha is in Acts 9:36-43. She was a woman disciple in Joppa, a coastal city. Her Aramaic name was Tabitha and her Greek name Dorcas, both meaning gazelle. Acts says she was devoted to good works and acts of charity.

One day she fell ill and died. Her body was washed and laid in an upper room. Because Lydda was near Joppa and Peter was there, the disciples sent two men to ask him to come without delay. When he arrived, the widows stood around him weeping and showed him the tunics and cloaks that Dorcas had made while she was alive.

According to Acts, Peter sent everyone out of the room, knelt and prayed, then turned to the body and said, Tabitha, get up. She opened her eyes, saw Peter and sat up. He gave her his hand and raised her to her feet, then called the believers and the widows and presented her alive. The news spread throughout Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord. Peter stayed on for some time in the house of Simon, a tanner. Scripture says nothing about her later life or final death, and there is no reliable tradition about them. The Eastern Churches commemorate her on 25 October.

Works and witness

• Woman disciple of Joppa known for good works and almsgiving (Acts 9)
• Bore two names: Tabitha (Aramaic) and Dorcas (Greek), meaning gazelle
• Widows showed the garments she had made while alive
• According to Acts, restored to life when Peter prayed
• The event led many in Joppa to believe in the Lord

Saints from the same country

Saint Peter, Saint Andrew the Apostle, Saint James the Greater, Saint John the Apostle

References

• New Testament – Acts of the Apostles
• Martyrologium Romanum
• Menologion of the Orthodox Church

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.