Dionysius (bishop of Milan)
Encyclopedia
Dionysius was Archbishop of Milan from 349 to 355. He is honoured as a Saint
in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox
Churches and his feast day is on May 25.
origins and he was a friend of the Roman Emperor
Constantius II
before to be elected bishop of Milan.
The historical period in which Dionysius lived was marked by the clashes between the Arians and the supporters of the faith of the Council of Nicaea
. Even Emperor Constantius II leant to Semi-Arian doctrines. In 355 Pope Liberius
asked and obtained by the Emperor the convening of a Synod in Milan, which was held in the newly erected Basilica Nova
(or Basilica Maior or St. Tecla). The council however did not followed the hopes of the Pope due the overwhelming number of Arians bishops and the initial forced absence of the champion of the Nicaean faith, Eusebius of Vercelli
. Initially Dionysius seemed ready to follow the Arians in condemning the Nicaean Athanasius of Alexandria
, accused not of heresy but of lese-majesty against the Emperor. With the arrival of Eusebius the situation changed: Eusebius requested an immediate subscription of the Nicaean faith by the bishops. Eusebius, the Papal legate
Lucifer of Cagliari and Dionysius signed, but the Arian bishop Valens of Mursia violently shreded the act of faith.
Constantius, unaccustomed to independence on the part of the bishops, moved the synod to his palace, and grievously maltreated Eusebius, Lucifer and Dionysius, which were all three exiled (also Pope Liberius was shortly later exiled). Dionysius was exiled in Caesarea of Cappadocia and was substituted as bishop of Milan by the Arian Auxentius appointed by the Emperor.
Dionysius died in exile in a year between 360 and 362. A late tradition, with no historical basis, associates Dionysius with the Milan's family of the Mariani.
sent in 375 or 376 a delegation to recover the corpse of Dionysius and to translate it to Milan. Even if it is historically difficult to determine when exactly the relics of Dionysius were translated to Milan, a primary source states that the relics were already in Milan in 744. A shrine dedicated to Dionysius was erected in Milan
near Porta Venezia but it was destroyed in 1549, rebuild nearby and definitely knocked down in 1783 to leave space for the new gardens. The corpse of Dionysius was translated in the Cathedral of Milan in 1532.
Nowadays three parish
es in Lombardia are entitled to Saint Dionysius: San Dionigi in Pratocentenaro in Milano, San Dionigi in Premana
and San Dionigi in Carcano of Albavilla
.
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
Churches and his feast day is on May 25.
Life
Almost nothing is known about the life of Dionysius before his election as bishop of Milan, which had place in 349. Dionysius was probably of GreekGreeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
origins and he was a friend of the Roman Emperor
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
Constantius II
Constantius II
Constantius II , was Roman Emperor from 337 to 361. The second son of Constantine I and Fausta, he ascended to the throne with his brothers Constantine II and Constans upon their father's death....
before to be elected bishop of Milan.
The historical period in which Dionysius lived was marked by the clashes between the Arians and the supporters of the faith of the Council of Nicaea
Council of Nicaea
Council of Nicaea can refer to:* First Council of Nicaea in AD 325* Second Council of Nicaea in AD 787* The Council of Nicaea * The Council of Nicaea...
. Even Emperor Constantius II leant to Semi-Arian doctrines. In 355 Pope Liberius
Pope Liberius
Pope Liberius, pope from May 17, 352, to September 24, 366, was consecrated according to the Catalogus Liberianus on May 22, as the successor of Pope Julius I. He was regarded as a saint in the early Church, but his name was later removed from the Roman Martyrology, however, he is once again...
asked and obtained by the Emperor the convening of a Synod in Milan, which was held in the newly erected Basilica Nova
Basilica di Santa Tecla
Basilica di Santa Tecla is a church in Milan, Italy. It was originally established in 345....
(or Basilica Maior or St. Tecla). The council however did not followed the hopes of the Pope due the overwhelming number of Arians bishops and the initial forced absence of the champion of the Nicaean faith, Eusebius of Vercelli
Eusebius of Vercelli
Eusebius of Vercelli was a bishop and saint in Italy. Along with Athanasius, he affirmed the divinity of Jesus against Arianism.-Biography:...
. Initially Dionysius seemed ready to follow the Arians in condemning the Nicaean Athanasius of Alexandria
Athanasius of Alexandria
Athanasius of Alexandria [b. ca. – d. 2 May 373] is also given the titles St. Athanasius the Great, St. Athanasius I of Alexandria, St Athanasius the Confessor and St Athanasius the Apostolic. He was the 20th bishop of Alexandria. His long episcopate lasted 45 years Athanasius of Alexandria [b....
, accused not of heresy but of lese-majesty against the Emperor. With the arrival of Eusebius the situation changed: Eusebius requested an immediate subscription of the Nicaean faith by the bishops. Eusebius, the Papal legate
Papal legate
A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....
Lucifer of Cagliari and Dionysius signed, but the Arian bishop Valens of Mursia violently shreded the act of faith.
Constantius, unaccustomed to independence on the part of the bishops, moved the synod to his palace, and grievously maltreated Eusebius, Lucifer and Dionysius, which were all three exiled (also Pope Liberius was shortly later exiled). Dionysius was exiled in Caesarea of Cappadocia and was substituted as bishop of Milan by the Arian Auxentius appointed by the Emperor.
Dionysius died in exile in a year between 360 and 362. A late tradition, with no historical basis, associates Dionysius with the Milan's family of the Mariani.
Veneration
Dionysius' feast is celebrated on May 25. According to a late tradition, probably not historical, AmbroseAmbrose
Aurelius Ambrosius, better known in English as Saint Ambrose , was a bishop of Milan who became one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the 4th century. He was one of the four original doctors of the Church.-Political career:Ambrose was born into a Roman Christian family between about...
sent in 375 or 376 a delegation to recover the corpse of Dionysius and to translate it to Milan. Even if it is historically difficult to determine when exactly the relics of Dionysius were translated to Milan, a primary source states that the relics were already in Milan in 744. A shrine dedicated to Dionysius was erected in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
near Porta Venezia but it was destroyed in 1549, rebuild nearby and definitely knocked down in 1783 to leave space for the new gardens. The corpse of Dionysius was translated in the Cathedral of Milan in 1532.
Nowadays three parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es in Lombardia are entitled to Saint Dionysius: San Dionigi in Pratocentenaro in Milano, San Dionigi in Premana
Premana
Premana is a comune in the Province of Lecco in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 70 km northeast of Milan and about 20 km north of Lecco...
and San Dionigi in Carcano of Albavilla
Albavilla
Albavilla is a comune in the Province of Como in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 35 km north of Milan and about 8 km east of Como.-External links:*...
.