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The holy, glorious and right-victorious [[Hieromartyr]] '''Dionysius the Areopagite''' (also '''Dionysios''' or '''Denys''') was [[baptism|baptized]] by [[Saint]] [[Apostle_Paul|Paul]] in Athens and is numbered among the Seventy [[Apostles]]. Prior to this, Dionysius grew up in a notable family in Athens, attended philosophical school at home and abroad, was married and had several children, and was a member of the highest court in Greece, the Areopagus. After his His [[conversionfeast day]] to the True Faith, St. Paul made him is celebrated on [[Bishop]] of Athens. Eventually he left his wife and children for [[Christ]] and went with St. Paul in [[missionary]] travel. He travelled to Jersusalem specifically to see the Most Holy [[Theotokos]] and writes of his encounter in one of his books. He was also present at her [[DormitionOctober 3]].

Seeing St==Life==Prior to his baptism, Dionysius grew up in a notable family in Athens, attended philosophical school at home and abroad, was married and had several children, and was a member of the highest court in Greece, the Areopagus. Paul martyred in RomeAfter his [[conversion]] to the True Faith, St. Dionysius desired to be a Paul made him [[martyrBishop]] as wellof Athens. He went to Gaul, along with Eventually he left his wife and children for [[presbyterChrist]] Rusticus and the went with St. Paul in [[deaconmissionary]] Eleutherius, travel. He travelled to Jerusalem specifically to preach see the Most Holy [[GospelTheotokos]] to the barbariansand writes of his encounter in one of his books. There his suffering He was equalled only by his success in converting many pagans to Christianityalso present at her [[Dormition]].

Seeing St. Paul [[martyr]]ed in Rome, St. Dionysius desired to be a martyr as well. He went to Gaul, along with his [[presbyter]] Rusticus and the [[deacon]] Eleutherius, to preach the [[Gospel]] to the barbarians. There his suffering was equalled only by his success in [[conversion|converting]] many pagans to Christianity.  In the year 96, St. Dionysius was seized and tortured for Christ, along with Rusticus and Eleutherius, and all three were beheaded under the reign of the Emperor Domitian. St. Dionysius' head rolled a rather long way until it came to the feet of Catula, a Christian. She honorably buried it along with his body. His [[feast day]] is celebrated on [[October 3]].

{{cleanup|Needs a clerical/theologians perspectiveexpert}} Four theological works are attributed to Dionysius: ''The Divine Names'', ''The Mystical Theology'', ''The Celestial Hierarchy'', and ''The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy'', as well as eleven letters. Many scholars doubt that the apostle himself wrote these works, often calling the author "Pseudo-Dionysius,"; supporting the notion that they are the works of a fifth-century Syrian student, of the pagan Neoplatonist Proclus, a controversial in nature theory. {{citation|Hi, is Is this a Chalcedonean supported source/opinion?}} On the one hand they have been accused of "employing Neoplatonic language to elucidate Christian theological and mystical ideas."{{<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dionysius_the_Areopagite&oldid=221352184 Wikipedia: Dionysius the Areopagite]; cf. also [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pseudo-Dionysius_the_Areopagite&oldid=220002373 Wikipedia: Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite]</ref|1}} > Whatever the provenance of the texts, their theology was incorporated into the mainstream of Orthodox theology through its adoption by St . [[Maximus the Confessor]]. While some recent Orthodox scholars have been critical of the influence of the Dionysian corpus, recent defenders include Igumen [[Alexander Golitzin]], who sees it as a fully Christian liturgical theology (''Et introibo ad altare dei: The Mystagogy of Dionysius Areopagita'' [Thessalonika, 1994]), and [[Vladimir Lossky]], who sees it as fundamental to any Christian theology (''The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church'').

 ==References==<references /> == Source ==*St. [[Nikolai Velimirovic]], ''The [[Prologue of Ohrid]]''