Γεννήθηκε το 1912 στην Αττάλεια της Μ. Ασίας. Έχασε το φώς του σε ηλικία 5 ετών. Το 1931 (19 ετών) έγινε μοναχός στο Αγ. Όρος. Επινόησε σύστημα Μπρέιγ για τη Βυζαντινή μουσική και μετέγραφε σε αυτό όλα τα κλασσικά μαθήματα. Συνέθεσε και νέα μέλη βασιζόμενος σε κλασσικές γραμμές και θέσεις. Τα τελευταία χρόνια της ζωής του τα πέρασε στο μοναστήρι των Αγ. Κυπριανού και Ιουστίνης Φυλής, όπου δίδαξε και ηχογράφησε αρκετά μέλη σε ηλικία 50-55 ετών. Απο πληροφορίες μαθητών του, ο π. Δοσίθεος θαύμαζε και ακολουθούσε τον τρόπο εκτέλεσης του Ιακώβου Ναυπλιώτη. Κοιμήθηκε την Παρασκευή της εβδομάδος των Βαΐων το 1991 σε ηλικία 79 ετών. Κάποιες ηχογραφήσεις και συνθέσεις του έχουν δημοσιευτεί από το μοναστήρι των Αγ. Κυπριανού και Ιουστίνης η διέυθυνση του οποίου είναι: Ταχ. θυρίδα 46 006, Ταχ. κωδικός 133 10, Άνω Λιόσια, Φυλή Αττικής, Ελλάδα, Τηλ. +30 210 2411380.

Biographical notes by Georgios K. Michalakis

He was born in 1912 at Attaleia in Asia Minor. He lost his sight at 5 years of age, but was endowed with rare musical gifts. In 1931 (at the age of 19) he became a monk at Mount Athos. He invented a Braille system for Byzantine music, and used it to transcribe all the classical pieces. The melodic lines of his personal compositions were always based upon those of the great teachers, and the overall hymns combined art with prayer. With all due respect to the classical texts and methods of composition, he also opened the path of musical freedom within the domain of Psaltic art (ecclesiastical chant). His compositions and performances of all the classical pieces, recorded on magnetic tapes, constitute a precious treasure for researchers, specialists (and students) of Ecclesiastical Byzantine Music. He reposed in the Lord on Friday of Palm Week in 1991 at the age of 79.

In the vocal introduction by the right choir monk chanter, one is informed that Monk Dositheos chanted all these hymns without any isson (which was added years later by the monk chanters), at the age of 50 to 55. He had particular admiration for the works of Iakovos Protopsaltis (whose two volume work he had also transcribed in the special Byzantine Music Neumatic Braille he had developed). He left behind about 100 hours' worth of chanting. He'd use classical patriarchal editions (with the Patriarchal stamp). He also transcribed many developements of various musical formulae, which he has organised in systematic manner.

The information here, was partly obtained from the chant master in charge of the distribution of monk Dostheos' work at the Monastery of Saints Cyprian and Justina, Postal Box 46 006, Postal code 133 10, Ano Liosia, Fili, Attica, Greece, Tel: (+1 210) and then 24 11 380, Fax: 24 11 080.

Other information here is from another long - time student of monk Dositheos, monk Father Chrysostom, with whom Georgios chanted for almost 2 years, as right chanter, in Montreal. Monk Dositheos spent the last years of his life in the monastery cited above, and bestowed upon them this inestimable treasure. Monk Dositheos also had very particular admiration for Iakovos Nafpliotis, and this above all other chanters. He would dictate the neumes by heart to his students and would do parallagi likewise. The students would transcribe this diction, and then do Parallagi (again, by heart as far as Monk Dositheos is concerned). Father Chrysostom left me his notes and exercises as well as some old classical editions he'd study with monk Dositheos. Father Chrysostom reposed in Christ after succombing to a rare, quick, and devastating heart cancer (rhabdomyosarcoma).

The following books by Dositheos were published by the Cyprianite brotherhood:

1) Λειτουργικά / Leitourgika
2) Οκτάηχο Εβδομαδάριον / Oktaechon Ebdomarion
3) Παραλειπόμενα Τριωδίου / Paraleipomena Triodiou
4) Μουσικόν Τριώδιον / Mousikon Triodion

Ο π. Δοσίθεος ηχογράφησε όλα τα κλασσικά μαθήματα, από Ιάκωβο πρωτοψάλτη μέχρι τα αργά ανοιξαντάρια του Κουκουζέλη. Λίγα από αυτά έχουν εκδοθεί σε κασέτα από το μοναστήρι. Η κασέτα Νο 10 του μοναστηριού περιλαμβάνει μέλη από τον π. Δοσίθεο.

Dositheos recorded all the classical pieces ranging from slow Kekragaria and Pasapnoaria of Iakovos Protopsaltis to slow Anoixantaria by St. Ioannis Koukouzelis. Part of these are available on tapes and CDs published by St. Cyprian's monastery. Tape Number 1 of monk Dositheos (Number 10 in the recording series of the aforementionned monastery), includes the following hymns (samples offered by Georgios Michalakis):

1) Κεκραγάρια Πλ β΄ ήχου, Ιακώβου Πρωτοψάλτου / Kekragarion and Katefthinthito, Iakovos Protopsaltis, Plagal Second Mode 2) Απόστιχα Πλ. β' ήχου, Ιωάννου Πρωτοψάλτου / Αposticha from Ioannis Protopsaltis' Anastasimatation, Plagal Second Mode [mp3, 1.1 Mb] (sample)
3) Ότι Σωτήρα Έτεκες, Πέτρου Μπερεκέτου / Oti Sotira, from the Octaechon Theotoke Parthene, Bereketis, Barys Mode [mp3, 761 Kb] (sample)
4) Πρώτο Εωθινό, προσωπική σύνθεση, Πρώτος ήχος / First Eothinon, personal composition, First Mode
5) Την ωραιότητα (αργόν), γ΄ήχος / Tin oraiotita, Slow version, Third Mode

1) Πολυέλεος "Δούλοι Κύριον", ήχος Πρώτος / Polyeleos, Douloi Kyrion, Petros Peloponnesios, including the perissi "Pantanassa Panymnite", Plagal First Mode. Here are some sample verses:

Τα είδωλα των εθνών / Ta Eidola Ton Ethnon [mp3, 700 Kb]
Στόμα έχουσιν / Stoma Exousin [mp3, 400 Kb]
Οφθαλμούς έχουσιν / Ofthalmous Exousin [mp3, 400 Kb]

2) Δοξολογία, ήχος Πλάγιος του Δευτέρου, Ιακώβου Πρωτοψάλτου / Great Doxology, Iakovos Protopsaltis, Plagal Second Mode.