Pope Dionysius of Alexandria

Who they were

Dionysius 'the Great', a convert from paganism and pupil of Origen, became Bishop of Alexandria about 247 and was, after St Cyprian, the most eminent bishop of the third century.

He led his people through the Decian persecution and a great plague, in which many clergy died caring for others. He died, an old man, about 264. He is in the Roman Martyrology on 17 November.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

A great bishop who shepherded his people through persecution and plague.

Connected on this site

• Heraclas of Alexandria Saint Teacher
• Basil of Caesarea Saint
  “Called "the Great" by Eusebius, Basil of Caesarea and others, he was characterized by the Catholic Encyclopedia as "undoubtedly, after St.” — Wikipedia
• Dionysius Saint
  “In the same decade, he convened a Roman synod in response to Egyptian Christians of the Libyan Pentapolis who challenged Dionysius of Alexandria's erroneous anti-Sabellian formulations.” — Wikipedia
• Firmilian Saint
  “He had a contemporary reputation comparable to that of Dionysius of Alexandria or Cyprian, bishop of Carthage.” — Wikipedia