Dionysius the Areopagite

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Dionysius the Areopagite (Greek Διονύσιος ὁ Ἀρεοπαγίτης) was the judge of the Areopagus who, as related in the Acts of the Apostles, (Acts 17:34), was converted to Christianity by the preaching of the Apostle Paul. According to Dionysius of Corinth, quoted by Eusebius, this Dionysius then became a bishop of Athens.^[1]

Historic Confusions

In the early 6th century, a series of famous writings of a mystical nature, employing Neoplatonic language to elucidate Christian theological and mystical ideas, was ascribed to the Areopagite.^[2] They have long been recognized as pseudepigrapha and are now attributed to "Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite".

Dionysius was also popularly mis-identified with the martyr of Gaul, Dionysius, the first Bishop of Paris, Saint Denis.

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Dionysius the Areopagite and Saint Denis of Paris are celebrated as one commemoration on October 3 (for those Orthodox Christians who follow the Julian Calendar, this currently falls on October 16 of the Gregorian Calendar).

Popular Culture

Dionysius is referred to in the movie Hellboy as the saint who wards off demons.

References

1. ^ Eusebius, Historia Ecclesiae III: iv
2. ^ Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy on the confusion between Dionysius and Pseudo-Dionysius

Sources

• Corrigan & Harrington, Dionysius: Persona Metaphysics Research Lab, CSLI, Stanford University 2004

See also

• Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite
• St. Dionysus Institute in Paris

External links

• Hieromartyr Dionysius the Areopagite the Bishop of Athens Orthodox icon and synaxarion
• The Holy Hieromartyr Dionysius the Areopagite entry from the Prologue from Ochrid by Nikolaj Velimirović