The Ante-Nicene Church · AD 180–313

Dionysius the Great

c. 190 – 264 · Bishop of Alexandria · Alexandria

The Ante-Nicene Church

Dionysius the Great — historical depiction 1
Dionysius the GreatAnonymous Unknown author · Public domain · Commons
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Dionysius the Great — historical depiction 1

Dionysius the GreatAnonymous Unknown author · Public domain · Commons

Dionysius the Great — historical depiction 2
Dionysius the Greatunknown artist, 4th century A.D., Rome photo made under direction of Joseph Wilpert, published 1903 photos in the book made by Pompeo Sansaini hand coloring of photos by Carlo Tabanelli · Public domain · Commons
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Dionysius the Great — historical depiction 2

Dionysius the Greatunknown artist, 4th century A.D., Rome photo made under direction of Joseph Wilpert, published 1903 photos in the book made by Pompeo Sansaini hand coloring of photos by Carlo Tabanelli · Public domain · Commons

Dionysius the Great — historical depiction 3
Dionysius the Greatunknown artist, Rome, mid-4th century A.D. · Public domain · Commons
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Dionysius the Great — historical depiction 3

Dionysius the Greatunknown artist, Rome, mid-4th century A.D. · Public domain · Commons

Dionysius the Great — historical depiction 4
Dionysius the GreatUnknown author Unknown author · Public domain · Commons
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Dionysius the Great — historical depiction 4

Dionysius the GreatUnknown author Unknown author · Public domain · Commons

Dionysius the Great — historical depiction 5
Dionysius the GreatUnknown author Unknown author · Public domain · Commons
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Dionysius the Great — historical depiction 5

Dionysius the GreatUnknown author Unknown author · Public domain · Commons

Who Dionysius the Great was

A wealthy pagan who read his way into the church — “I read everything,” he told a scandalized presbyter, on the principle that truth fears no examination — Dionysius studied under Origen, headed the catechetical school, and became bishop of Alexandria in 247 in time for everything: the Decian persecution (he was rescued from arrest by a wedding party), the plague, civil war, and the empire-wide controversies over rebaptism and the lapsed, in which his letters counseled mercy. His festal letters describe Christians nursing the plague-stricken city while pagans fled. In On the Promises he subjected the book of Revelation to the first sustained literary criticism in Christian history, arguing from style that the Gospel and Apocalypse could not share an author.

Also listed in the bishops of Alexandria.

Common questions

When did Dionysius live?

Dionysius the Great is dated c. 190 – 264 in the archive, which places Dionysius in the Ante-Nicene Church (AD 180–313). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.

What did Dionysius write?

Dionysius the Great has 2 catalogued writings in the archive: Festal Letters (in Eusebius) and On the Promises.

Which early sources mention Dionysius?

Dionysius the Great is named in 4 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Eusebius of Caesarea, Athanasius of Alexandria, Basil of Caesarea and Jerome of Stridon. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Where was Dionysius from?

The archive associates Dionysius the Great with Alexandria.

Writings (2)

Festal Letters (in Eusebius)

c. 260
Most of our brethren were unsparing in their exceeding love and brotherly kindness. They held fast to each other and visited the sick fearlessly… and died with them most joyfully.

Earliest witness · Eusebius, Church History VI–VII (carrier) (c. 325 (medieval copies))

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On the Promises

c. 255
That the book of Revelation is the work of a John, I do not deny; but I judge from the character of both, and the forms of expression, that it is not the apostle’s. — the beginnings of biblical criticism

Earliest witness · Eusebius, Church History VI–VII (carrier) (c. 325 (medieval copies))

Read the interlinear source text →

Primary-source mentions (4)

Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.

Ecclesiastical History VI.29

c. AD 325
In Alexandria Heraclas, having received the episcopal office after Demetrius, was succeeded in the charge of the catechetical school by Dionysius, who had also been one of Origen's pupils.
Eusebius of Caesarea · VI.29 · source text

On the Decrees of Nicaea 25–26 (his orthodoxy defended, his words quoted)

c. AD 350
Athanasius of Alexandria · On the Decrees 25 · source text

On the Holy Spirit 29.72 (cited among the fathers)

c. AD 375
Basil of Caesarea · On the Holy Spirit 29 · source text

On Illustrious Men 69

c. AD 392
Dionysius, bishop of Alexandria, while presbyter had charge of the catechetical school.
Jerome of Stridon · On Illustrious Men 69 · source text

Connected in the archive

Pupil of Origen; correspondent of Cyprian’s Rome and namesake Dionysius of Rome

People

Named alongside Dionysius in the sources

These figures are placed with Dionysius by the record — in a council roll, a martyr-act, a letter or a history — without Dionysius naming them in return.

Events in this lifetime

Place

Places served

The one place the sources put Dionysius.

  1. 1Alexandria

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