Pursuing the beheading of Pope Sixtus II by the Emperor Valerian, the throne of Saint Peter remained vacant for about a year. The Church leaders were unable to find a new Pontiff due to the intense religious persecution. Many who were chosen for the position, declined due to the adverse situation and persecution that existed. However, on July 2nd, AD 259, Saint Dionysius accepted and was elected as the Twenty-fifth head of the Catholic Church.
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Pope Dionysius was born in Italy in AD200 to parents of Greek descent. He served as a priest in Rome during the persecution of Emperor Valerian. The church historian Eusebius testifies that Dionysius wrote two letters to the church leadership to resolve the schism and controversy that existed between the churches of Rome and Africa over the validity of baptism practiced by the heretical Novationists.
In AD 260, the Roman Emperor Valerian was captured and executed by the Persian army. Gallienus, the son of the emperor Valerian, who was then crowned as the Roman emperor, issued a new order to tolerate Christianity and stop the persecution of Christians.
Gallienus also gave legitimacy to the church through his order. This gave rise to a renewed awakening and peacefulness in the Church. The emperor also provided necessary assistance to renovate Churches and resume Christian worship. This period of peace lasted for around four decades.
Pope Dionysius paid special attention to reorganizing and reforming the church system, which was in disarray due to the religious persecution. Like his predecessors, he took a strong stance against Novationism and taught that those who had apostatized during the persecution but repented and wished to re-unite with the Church should certainly be accepted back into the Church.
Soon after his election, Pope Dionysius felt the need to find a solution to the new controversy regarding the Holy Trinity that had risen in the church. The then Bishop of Alexandria, also named Dionysius, in his work Against the Heresy of Sabellianism expressed his opinion that the Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity, is as different in essence from the Father as a ship is from its shipbuilder. Such an expression led to Dionysius of Alexandria being accused of teaching heresy.
Pope Dionysius convened a synod in Rome to resolve this controversy. At the said synod he issued a letter containing the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. Through the said letter, he refuted the heresy of Sabellianism and those who taught that Christ was only a creature, and unequivocally declared that such teachings were false.
At the same time Pope Dionysius asked Dionysius the bishop of Alexandria to clearly define his opinions and teachings. At the call of the Pope, he clearly defined his doctrine and taught that Christ dwells eternally with the Father and that the Father and the Son are consubstantial, implying the unity of the Father and the Son. Such a study was the forerunner of the later canonical study of Christ by the Nicene Synod.
Like his predecessors, Pope Dionysius, according to the ancient tradition of the Church, was very concerned about helping the faithful in distant places. The church community in Cappadocia suffered greatly due to the attack of the Goths. The Goths destroyed the Churches and took many captives. Following this, the Pope sent financial aid to Cappadocia and used such aids for the release of captives and the restoration of churches.
Pope Dionysius courageously led the Church for more than nine years. Historians record that he died of old age. Saint Dionysius passed away on December 26, AD268.
-edit&transl. SM
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