Difference between revisions of "Dionysius the Areopagite"

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[[Image:Dionysius the Areopagite.jpg|right|frame|St. Dionysius the Areopagite]]
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The holy, glorious and right-victorious [[Hieromartyr]] '''Dionysius the Areopagite''' 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 [[conversion]] to the True Faith, St. Paul made him [[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 [[Dormition]].
 
 
 
Seeing St. Paul martyred 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 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]].
 
 
 
==Works==
 
Many famous books are attributed to St. Dionysius, including: ''The Divine Names of God'', ''Celestial and Ecclesiastical Hierarchies'' and ''Mystical Theology''. Many scholars, however, doubt the that the apostle himself wrote these works, often calling their author "Pseudo-Dionysius." These fifth-century works have also been accused of "employing Neoplatonic language to elucidate Christian theological and mystical ideas."{{ref|1}} Pseudo-Dionysius has been identified with various people in the past.
 
 
 
His ''Letter to Titus'' is quoted by St. [[John of Damascus]] in his work ''On the Divine Images'', a defense of [[icon]]s during the [[iconoclast|iconoclastic controveries]].
 
 
 
==Hymns==
 
[[Troparion]] (Tone 4)
 
:Having learned goodness and maintaining continence in all things,
 
:you were arrayed with a good conscience as befits a priest.
 
:From the chosen Vessel you drew ineffable mysteries;
 
:you kept the faith, and finished a course equal to His.
 
:Bishop martyr Dionysius, entreat Christ God that our souls may be saved.
 
[[Kontakion]] (Tone 8)
 
:As a disciple of the apostle caught up to the third heaven,
 
:you spiritually entered the gate of heaven, Dionysius.
 
:You were enriched with understanding of ineffable mysteries
 
:and enlightened those who sat in the darkness of ignorance.
 
:Therefore we cry to you: Rejoice, universal Father!
 
== Source ==
 
St. [[Nikolai Velimirovic]], ''The [[Prologue of Ohrid]]''
 
 
 
==External links==
 
*[http://goarch.org/en/chapel/saints.asp?contentid=227 Dionysios the Areopagite] ([[GOARCH]])
 
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?SID=4&ID=1&FSID=102843 Hieromartyr Dionysius the Areopagite the Bishop of Athens] ([[OCA]])
 
*[http://www.ccel.org/d/dionysius Dionysius, the Pseudo-Areopagite (b. c. 500): Mystical theologian] at the Christian Classics Ethereal Library
 
*[http://www.oca.org/QA.asp?ID=117&SID=3 Dionysius the Areopagite] Q & A (OCA)
 
*[http://www.comeandseeicons.com/d/cap10.htm An icon of Hieromartyr Dionysius the Areopagite] at "Come and See" Icons, Books & Art
 
*{{note|1}} [[w:Dionysius the Areopagite|Wikipedia's Dionysius the Areopagite]] (see also link to Pseudo-Dionysius)
 
 
 
[[Category:Bishops]]
 
[[Category:Archbishops of Athens|Dionysius I (52-96)]]
 
[[Category:Church Fathers]]
 
[[Category:Martyrs]]
 
[[Category:Saints]]
 
[[Category:Greek Saints]]
 
[[Category:Seventy Apostles]]
 
 
 
[[ro:Dionisie Areopagitul]]
 

Revision as of 11:03, June 10, 2008

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