Difference between revisions of "Pope Dionysius" - New World Encyclopedia
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| − | + | '''Pope Saint Dionysius''' was [[bishop of Rome]] from July 22, 259 to December 26, 268. He followed [[Sixtus II]], who had been martyred along with several Roman deacons, and was succeeded by [[Felix I]]. | |
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| − | '''Pope Saint Dionysius''' was [[ | ||
| − | + | Probably born in Southern Italy, Dionysius was elected [[pope]] in 259, after the Roman bishop's chair had been vacant for nearly a year after the martyrdom of [[Sixtus II]] in 258. [[Emperor Valerian I]], who had led the persecution, was captured and killed by the [[Shapur I of Persia|King of Persia]] in 260. The new emperor, [[Gallienus]], issued an edict of toleration, bringing the persecution of Christians to an end and giving the church legal status. Dionysius took on the task of reorganizing the [[Rome|Roman]] church, which had fallen into great disorder during the persecution. He had to contend with the ongoing Novatianist schism over the question of whether those who renounced their Christian faith under persecution could be absolved of their sin and readmitted to communion. He also had to deal with a suspected heresy by the [[Dionysius of Alexandria|bishop of Alexandria]], also called Dionysius, concerning the emerging doctrine of the [[Logos]]. | |
| − | Pope Dionysius sent large sums of money to the churches of [[Cappadocia]], which had been devastated by the marauding [[Goths]], to rebuild and to ransom those held captive. He brought order to the Church and | + | Pope Dionysius sent large sums of money to the churches of [[Cappadocia]], which had been devastated by the marauding [[Goths]], to rebuild and to ransom those held captive. He brought order to the Roman church and the peace he helped establish with Roman Empire would last until 303, during which time the Christian church became a very formidable institution. He died of natural causes on December 26, 268. |
| − | + | ==Biography== | |
| − | + | Date of birth unknown; d. 26 or 27 December, 268. During the pontificate of Pope Stephen (254-57) Dionysius appears as a presbyter of the Roman Church and as such took part in the controversy concerning the validity of heretical baptism (see BAPTISM under sub-title Rebaptism). This caused Bishop Dionysius of Alexandria to write him a letter on baptism in which he is described as an excellent and learned man (Eusebius, Hist eccl. VII, vii). Later, in the time of Pope Sixtus II (257-58), the same Bishop of Alexandria addressed Dionysius a letter concerning Lucianus (ibid., VII, ix), who this Lucianus was is not known. After the martyrdom of Sixtus II (6 August, 258) the Roman See remained vacant for nearly a year, as the violence of the persecution made it impossible to elect a new head. It was not until the persecution had begun to subside that Dionysius was raised (22 July, 259) to the office of Bishop of Rome. Some months later the Emperor Gallienus issued his edict of toleration, which brought the persecution to an end and gave a legal existence to the Church (Eusebius, Church History VII.13). Thus the Roman Church came again into possession of its buildings for worship, its cemeteries, and other properties, and Dionysius was able to bring its administration once more into order. About 260 Bishop Dionysius of Alexandria wrote his letter to Ammonius and Euphranor against Sabellianism in which he expressed himself with inexactness as to the Logos and its relation to God the Father (see DIONYSIUS OF ALEXANDRIA). Upon this an accusation against him was laid before Pope Dionysius who called a synod at Rome about 260 for the settlement of the matter. The pope issued, in his own name and that of the council, an important doctrinal letter in which, first, the erroneous doctrine of Sabellius was again condemned and, then, the false opinions of those were rejected who, like the Marcionites, in a similar manner separate the Divine monarchy into three entirely distinct hypostases or who represent the Son of God as a created being, while the Holy Scripture declare Him to have been begotten passages in the Bible, such as Deuteronomy 32:6 and Proverbs 8:22, cannot be cited in support of false doctrines such as these. Along with this doctrinal epistle Pope Dionysius sent a separate letter to the Alexandrian Bishop in which the latter was called on to explain his views. This Dionysius of Alexandria did in his "Apologia" (Athanasius, De sententia Dionysii, V, xiii, De decretis Nicaenae synodi, xxvi). According to the ancient practice of the Roman Church Dionysius also extended his care to the faithful of distant lands. When the Christians of Cappadocia were in great distress from the marauding incursions of the Goths, the pope addressed a consolatory letter to the Church of Caesarea and sent a large sum of money by messengers for the redemption of enslaved Christians (Basilius, Epist. lxx, ed. Garnier). The great synod of Antioch which deposed Paul of Samosata sent a circular letter to Pope Dionysius and Bishop Maximus of Alexandria concerning its proceedings (Eusebius, Church History VII.30). After death the body of Dionysius was buried in the papal crypt in the catacomb of Callistus. | |
| + | ==Legacy== | ||
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Revision as of 02:07, 15 January 2009
- "Saint Dionysius" redirects here.
| Dionysius | |
|---|---|
| |
| Birth name | Dionysius |
| Papacy began | July 22, 259 |
| Papacy ended | December 26, 268 |
| Predecessor | Sixtus II |
| Successor | Felix I |
| Born | ??? Greece ? |
| Died | December 26 268 Rome, Italy ? |
Pope Saint Dionysius was bishop of Rome from July 22, 259 to December 26, 268. He followed Sixtus II, who had been martyred along with several Roman deacons, and was succeeded by Felix I.
Probably born in Southern Italy, Dionysius was elected pope in 259, after the Roman bishop's chair had been vacant for nearly a year after the martyrdom of Sixtus II in 258. Emperor Valerian I, who had led the persecution, was captured and killed by the King of Persia in 260. The new emperor, Gallienus, issued an edict of toleration, bringing the persecution of Christians to an end and giving the church legal status. Dionysius took on the task of reorganizing the Roman church, which had fallen into great disorder during the persecution. He had to contend with the ongoing Novatianist schism over the question of whether those who renounced their Christian faith under persecution could be absolved of their sin and readmitted to communion. He also had to deal with a suspected heresy by the bishop of Alexandria, also called Dionysius, concerning the emerging doctrine of the Logos.
Pope Dionysius sent large sums of money to the churches of Cappadocia, which had been devastated by the marauding Goths, to rebuild and to ransom those held captive. He brought order to the Roman church and the peace he helped establish with Roman Empire would last until 303, during which time the Christian church became a very formidable institution. He died of natural causes on December 26, 268.
Biography
Date of birth unknown; d. 26 or 27 December, 268. During the pontificate of Pope Stephen (254-57) Dionysius appears as a presbyter of the Roman Church and as such took part in the controversy concerning the validity of heretical baptism (see BAPTISM under sub-title Rebaptism). This caused Bishop Dionysius of Alexandria to write him a letter on baptism in which he is described as an excellent and learned man (Eusebius, Hist eccl. VII, vii). Later, in the time of Pope Sixtus II (257-58), the same Bishop of Alexandria addressed Dionysius a letter concerning Lucianus (ibid., VII, ix), who this Lucianus was is not known. After the martyrdom of Sixtus II (6 August, 258) the Roman See remained vacant for nearly a year, as the violence of the persecution made it impossible to elect a new head. It was not until the persecution had begun to subside that Dionysius was raised (22 July, 259) to the office of Bishop of Rome. Some months later the Emperor Gallienus issued his edict of toleration, which brought the persecution to an end and gave a legal existence to the Church (Eusebius, Church History VII.13). Thus the Roman Church came again into possession of its buildings for worship, its cemeteries, and other properties, and Dionysius was able to bring its administration once more into order. About 260 Bishop Dionysius of Alexandria wrote his letter to Ammonius and Euphranor against Sabellianism in which he expressed himself with inexactness as to the Logos and its relation to God the Father (see DIONYSIUS OF ALEXANDRIA). Upon this an accusation against him was laid before Pope Dionysius who called a synod at Rome about 260 for the settlement of the matter. The pope issued, in his own name and that of the council, an important doctrinal letter in which, first, the erroneous doctrine of Sabellius was again condemned and, then, the false opinions of those were rejected who, like the Marcionites, in a similar manner separate the Divine monarchy into three entirely distinct hypostases or who represent the Son of God as a created being, while the Holy Scripture declare Him to have been begotten passages in the Bible, such as Deuteronomy 32:6 and Proverbs 8:22, cannot be cited in support of false doctrines such as these. Along with this doctrinal epistle Pope Dionysius sent a separate letter to the Alexandrian Bishop in which the latter was called on to explain his views. This Dionysius of Alexandria did in his "Apologia" (Athanasius, De sententia Dionysii, V, xiii, De decretis Nicaenae synodi, xxvi). According to the ancient practice of the Roman Church Dionysius also extended his care to the faithful of distant lands. When the Christians of Cappadocia were in great distress from the marauding incursions of the Goths, the pope addressed a consolatory letter to the Church of Caesarea and sent a large sum of money by messengers for the redemption of enslaved Christians (Basilius, Epist. lxx, ed. Garnier). The great synod of Antioch which deposed Paul of Samosata sent a circular letter to Pope Dionysius and Bishop Maximus of Alexandria concerning its proceedings (Eusebius, Church History VII.30). After death the body of Dionysius was buried in the papal crypt in the catacomb of Callistus.
Legacy
| Roman Catholic Popes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Sixtus II |
Bishop of Rome Pope 259–268 |
Succeeded by: Felix I |
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
External links
"Pope St. Dionysius" in the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia.- Opera Omnia
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