Saint Hieromartyr Dionysius
of Alexandria.

Dionysius was born to a wealthy polytheistic family around 190 and spent much time reading books and carefully studying the traditions of polytheists. As a young man, he read St Paul's epistles, came to faith in Christ and was baptised by Dimitrios, the then Bishop of Alexandria. He became a pupil of Origen and joined the Catechetical School of Alexandria where he became a student of Origen and Heraklas.

In 232, as Heraklas became the Bishop of Alexandria, Dionysius, now a priest, succeeded him as leader of the school. He became Bishop of Alexandria in the year 247.

The influence of Saint Dionysius extended beyond the limits of his diocese, and his writings dealt with practical as well as theological subjects ("On Nature," "On Temptations," "On the Promises," etc.). He was also familiar with Greek philosophy. Only fragments of his writings survive today, most of them preserved in Eusebius, who mentions him in his CHURCH HISTORY (Book 7) and calls him "Dionysius the Great." Two complete letters of Saint Dionysius are extant, one addressed to Novatian, and the other to Basilides.

Dionysius of Alexandria accepted the pope's judgment and repudiated the Sabellians' charges, but he insisted that the Trinity consisted of three inseparable persons. Semantics was at the root of the difficulty; Greek and Roman understandings of the same terms differed, and his position has since been vindicated by the church.

In 249, a riot against Christians arose in Alexandria, nurtured by a popular pagan prophet and poet, during which Christians were at risk from mobs. Soon, the riots became legal persecutions instituted by the new Emperor Decius. The Christians were subjected to all kinds of cruelty, tortures of all sorts, all aimed to drive the victim Christians to sacrifice to the gods. Dionysius joined those who fled, but was identified and made prisoner. News of Dionysius' capture soon became known to a party of Christians who descended on the soldiers, holding him, who took flight. Dionysius remained in the desert until the persecutions stopped in 251.

In 252 an outbreak of plague ravaged Alexandria, and Dionysios, along with other priests and deacons, took it upon themselves to assist the sick and dying. The Saint called upon his flock to tend sick Christians and pagans alike, and to bury the dead. In 257, St. Dionysius was exiled to Kephro in the Mareotis, after being tried together with one priest and two deacons before Æmilianus, the prefect of Egypt. In all he lived there for twelve years and underwent much tribulation and suffering in an unhealthy environment. When Gallienus, son of Valerian, took over the empire he released all the believers who were in prison and brought back those in exile. Gallienus wrote to Dionysios and the bishops a letter to assure their safety in opening the churches.

He was called Dionysius the Great by Eusebius of Caesarea, St. Basil the Great, and others. His correspondence with bishops throughout Christendom on the crucial issues of his day—the Novatianist schism, the readmission of the lapsed, heretical baptism, and the proper understanding of the Trinity—profoundly influenced the development of Orthodox ecclesiology and doctrine. Among his writings are a few canons which were adopted by the Church, and his letter against Novatius is also regarded as a canonical writing.

Saint Dionysius' witness during the Decian and Valerian persecutions, combined with his pastoral compassion during plague, established him as one of the greatest bishops of the ancient Church. His careful pastoral management and doctrinal firmness made Alexandria a beacon of Orthodoxy in the third century, and his spiritual children continued his legacy of service and fidelity to Christ.

Saint Dionysius was the son of wealthy pagan parents, converted to Christianity at a mature age, became a pupil of Origen, and was later appointed as the head of Alexandria's Catechetical School before becoming Bishop of Alexandria in the year 247.

The holy bishop endured much suffering in his lifetime. When the Decian persecution broke out, Saint Dionysius was forced to flee Alexandria, but returned when the Emperor died. He was later exiled to Libya during the reign of Valerian. When he was able to resume his duties in Alexandria in 261, Saint Dionysius had to contend with civil war, famine, plague, and other difficulties.

The saint called upon his flock to tend sick Christians and pagans alike, and to bury the dead. Concerning the death of his spiritual children he wrote, "In such a manner the best of our brethren have departed this life. This generation of the dead, a deed of great piety and firm faith, is no less of a martyrdom." Saint Dionysius illumined his flock through his preaching, and with deeds of love and charity.

An illness prevented him from attending the Council of Antioch (264–265), and he fell asleep in the Lord while it was in session.