Pope Dionysius of Alexandria

Dionysius was born to a wealthy polytheistic family sometime in the late 2nd, or early 3rd century. He spent most of his life reading books and carefully studying the traditions of polytheists. He converted to Christianity at a mature age and discussed his conversion experience with Philemon, a presbyter of Pope Sixtus II.^[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 the Catechetical School of Alexandria and was a student of Origen and Pope 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 the Gospel of Luke, the Gospel of John and the Book 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 emperor Decius issued a decree of legal 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]

Dionysius himself was pursued by the prefect Aurelius Appius Sabinus, who had sent an assassin to murder him on sight. Dionysius spent three days in hiding before departing on the fourth night of the Decian decree with his servants and other loyal brethren. After a brush with a group of soldiers, he managed to escape with two of his followers, and set up a residence in the Libyan desert until the end of the persecution the following year.^[5]

He supported Pope Cornelius in the controversy of 251, arising when Novatian, a learned presbyter of the Church at Rome, set up a schismatic church with a rigorist position against communing Christians who had apostatized during the persecution. In opposition to Novatian's teaching, Dionysius ordered that the Eucharist should be refused to no one who asked it at the hour of death, even those who had previously lapsed.^[6]

In 252, an outbreak of plague ravaged Alexandria, and Dionysius—along with other clergy—assisted the sick and dying.^[5]

Christian persecutions subsided somewhat under Trebonianus Gallus, but were renewed under his successor Valerian. Dionysius was imprisoned and then exiled under Valerian. When Gallienus took over the empire, he released all the believers who were in prison and brought back those in exile. Gallienus wrote to Dionysius and other bishops a letter ensuring their safety and ability to reopen their churches.^[7]

During the debate between Pope Stephen and Cyprian, Dionysius supported the position of the Stephen but supported the autonomy of the African churches.^[8]

Basil of Caesarea wrote to Pope Damasus I about aid sent, by Dionysius, to the church at Caesarea. That correspondence is cited by Pope Pius IX in his encyclical Praedecessores Nostros (On Aid For Ireland) of 25 March 1847.^[9]

• Works by Saint Dionysius at Project Gutenberg
• Works by or about Saint Dionysius at the Internet Archive
• The works of Gregory Thaumaturgus, Dionysius of Alexandria and Archelaus, trans. S. D. F. Salmond, Edinburgh, T. & T. Clark, 1871: Google Books, archive.org
• F. C. Conybeare, "Dionysius of Alexandria, Newly discovered letters to the Popes Stephen and Xystus", English Historical Review 25 (1910) pp. 111-114 (tertullian.org copy)
• Bishop of Alexandria, Saint Dionysius, "St. Dionysius of Alexandria Letters and Treatises", edited by Charles Lett Feltoe, The MacMillin Company, London, 1918
• Works by Pope Dionysius of Alexandria at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)