Dionysius the Great | |
|---|---|
| Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria | |
 Pope Dionysius the Great | |
| Archdiocese | Alexandria |
| See | Alexandria |
| Papacy began | 28 December 248 |
| Papacy ended | 22 March 264 |
| Predecessor | Heraclas |
| Successor | Maximus |
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
| Died | 22 March 264 Egypt |
| Buried | Church of the Cave,Alexandria |
| Nationality | Egyptian |
| Alma mater | Catechetical School of Alexandria |
| Sainthood | |
| Feast day | 13Paremhat (Coptic Christianity)[1] 8 April[2] |
| Venerated in | Catholicism Eastern Orthodoxy Oriental Orthodoxy |
Dionysius the Great (Ancient Greek:Διονύσιος Ἀλεξανδρείας) was the 14thPope and Patriarch of Alexandria from 28 December 248 until his death on 22 March 264. Most information known about him comes from a large corpus of correspondence. Only one complete letter survives; the remaining letters are excerpted in the works ofEusebius.
Called "the Great" by Eusebius,Basil of Caesarea and others, he was characterized by theCatholic Encyclopedia as "undoubtedly, afterSt. Cyprian, the most eminent bishop of the third century... like St. Cyprian, less a great theologian than a great administrator."[3]
Dionysius was born to a wealthypolytheistic family around 190. He spent much time reading books and carefully studying the traditions of polytheists. He converted to Christianity at a relatively young age.[3] Dionysius converted to Christianity when he had a vision from God, in which he was commanded to study and refute the heresies facing the early Christians. After his conversion, he joined theCatechetical School of Alexandria and was a student ofOrigen andPope Heraclas. He eventually became leader of the school and presbyter of the church, succeeding Pope Heraclas in 231. In 248, Dionysius succeeded Pope Heraclas, becoming Pope of the church of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark.[3]
Dionysius was a more able administrator than theologian.[3] Information on his work as Bishop of Alexandria is found in Dionysius' correspondence with other bishops and clergymen of the third century Catholic Church. Dionysius’ correspondences included interpretations on theGospel of Luke, theGospel of John and theBook of Revelation.[4]
During 249, a major persecution was carried out in Alexandria by a polytheist mob, and hundreds of Christians were assaulted, stoned, burned or cut down on account of their refusal to deny their faith. Dionysius managed to survive that persecution and subsequent civil war. In January 250, the new emperorDecius issued a decree oflegal persecution. Out of fear, many Christians denied their faith by offering a token polytheist sacrifice, and others attempted to obtain false documents affirming their sacrifice. Those who refused to sacrifice faced public ridicule and shame and, if found by the authorities, torture and execution. Many fled from the city into the desert, where most succumbed to exposure, hunger, thirst, or attacks by bandits or wild animals.[5]
The prefectAurelius Appius Sabinus pursued Dionysius himself. Sabinus sent an assassin to murder him on sight. Dionysius spent three days in hiding before departing with his servants and other loyal brethren on the fourth night of the Decian decree. After a brush with a group of soldiers, he managed to escape with two of his followers and set up a residence in theLibyan Desert until the end of the persecution the following year.[5]
He supportedPope Cornelius in thecontroversy of 251, arising whenNovatian, a learned presbyter of the Church at Rome, set up a schismatic church with a rigorist position against communing Christians who hadapostatized during the persecution. In opposition to Novatian's teaching, Dionysius ordered that theEucharist should be refused to no one who asked it at the hour of death, even those who had previouslylapsed.[6]
In 252, thePlague of Cyprian broke out in Alexandria, and Dionysius and other clergy assisted the sick and dying.[5]
Christian persecutions subsided somewhat underTrebonianus Gallus but were renewed under his successorValerian. Dionysius was imprisoned and then exiled under Valerian. WhenGallienus took over the empire, he released all the believers who were in prison and brought back those in exile. Gallienus wrote a letter to Dionysius and other bishops, ensuring their safety and ability to reopen their churches.[7]
During the debate betweenPope Stephen andCyprian, Dionysius supported the position of Stephen but supported the autonomy of the African churches.[8]
Basil of Caesarea wrote toPope Damasus I about aid sent, by Dionysius, to the church atCaesarea. That correspondence is cited byPope Pius IX in his encyclicalPraedecessores Nostros (On Aid For Ireland) of 25 March 1847.[9]
| Titles of the Great Christian Church | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria 248—264 | Succeeded by |
