Dionysius

ON SAINT DIONYSIUS, BISHOP OF THE CORINTHIANS,

AT PARIS IN THE MONASTERY OF SAINT DIONYSIUS.

ABOUT THE YEAR 180

Dionysius, Bishop of the Corinthians, at Paris in the Monastery of Dionysius (St.)

BHL Number: 2167

BY G. H.

CHAPTER I.

The virtues and epistles of Saint Dionysius as related by Eusebius. Some things not rightly ascribed to him.

[1] Eusebius Pamphilus, in book IV of the Ecclesiastical History, treats at length of the events worthy of memory which took place under the reign of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus with his brother Lucius Aelius Verus, that is, from the year 161 to the year 180; and in chapter 21, concerning the Ecclesiastical Writers who flourished at that time, he has these things: Ancient record in Eusebius, "At those same times there flourished in the Church Hegesippus, of whom we treated on the 7th of this month, and Dionysius Bishop of the Corinthians, Pinytus also Bishop of the Cretans, Philip moreover, and Apollinaris and Melito: Musanus also and Modestus, and especially Irenaeus. concerning his writings. The books of all of whom, containing the sincere doctrine of the Apostolic tradition and of the true faith, have come down even to us." Then in chapter 23,

concerning Saint Dionysius and the epistles written by him, he hands down these things:

[2] "First, we must speak of Dionysius, who held the episcopate of the Church of the Corinthians, and not only with the peoples committed to him, but also with the inhabitants of other regions and cities, Epistle 1 to the Lacedaemonians, generously shared his divine labors; serving the advantage and utility of all, in those catholic epistles which he wrote to various Churches. Of which one indeed is to the Lacedaemonians, containing the instruction of right faith, and inculcating peace and unity. 2 to the Athenians, Another, however, is written to the Athenians, rousing them to faith, and to lead their life according to the precept of the Gospel: in which matter he reproves the negligence of the Athenians, since they had well-nigh fallen away from the faith, after Publius their Bishop had undergone martyrdom in the persecutions then stirred up. He also mentions Quadratus, who after the martyrdom of Publius was appointed Bishop of the Athenians: and testifies that by his labor and industry the citizens gathered together again in the church, and that the fervor of the faith was renewed in them. He moreover reports that Dionysius the Areopagite, who was converted to the faith by Paul the Apostle, as is handed down in the Acts of the Apostles, was the first of all to undertake the priesthood of the Athenian Church." These are held as the three first Bishops of the Athenians: of whom Saint Dionysius is referred to by Ado and others on October 3, but distinguished from the Apostle of the Parisians, who is venerated on October 9. The second was Saint Publius the Martyr, whom we celebrated on January 21. The third, most famous for the Apology offered to the Emperor Hadrian in defense of the Christian religion, is Quadratus, inscribed in the sacred calendars on May 26. But let us return to the epistles of Saint Dionysius, concerning which Eusebius thus continues.

[3] 3 to the Nicomedians, "But there is also another epistle of his to the Nicomedians, in which, attacking the heresy of Marcion, he firmly adheres to the rule of truth. 4 to the Gortynians and Cretans, Moreover, writing a letter to the Church of the Gortynians and at the same time to the other Churches of Crete, he greatly extols their Bishop Philip (whose Church, indeed, had received excellent praise for its fortitude and noble spirit by the common consent of all), and warns them to beware of the fraud and cunning of heretics. 5 to the Amastrians, In the epistle, however, which he writes to the Church of the Amastrians and at the same time to the other Churches of Pontus, he relates that he was moved to write by Bacchylides and Elpistus: and naming their Bishop Palmas by name, he brings forward a sacred exposition of the Scriptures. He also instructs them on many things concerning marriage and chastity: and commands that all who turn back from some lapse or fault, or even from heretical depravity, be kindly received. 6 to the Gnossians, In the same volume is also contained an epistle to the Gnossians, in which he warns Pinytus the Bishop of that Church not to impose the heavy burden of chastity on the necks of the brethren as necessary; but to have regard for that infirmity which is in most men. To this epistle Pinytus afterwards replied, with admiration and praises he exalts Dionysius above all; but nevertheless exhorts that he at last impart more solid food, and again by sending letters of more perfect doctrine he might wish to nourish the people committed to him: lest perchance men perpetually fed on milky discourses might gradually grow old in a kind of infantile discipline. This epistle indeed, as if in a painted tablet, excellently shows forth both the right faith of Pinytus and his solicitude for the advancement of the people committed to him, as well as his eloquence and skill in divine matters." Thus there. There were two most famous Bishops on the island of Crete: of these the first, Philip, Bishop of the Gortynians, is venerated on the 11th of this month of April: the other, Pinytus, Bishop of the city of Gnossus, formerly royal, now destroyed, has for his sacred day October 10. Concerning the city of Amastris in Paphlagonia on the Euxine Sea, much has been said on February 21 in the Life of Saint George, Bishop of that city around the year 800, where Palmas sat at this time of Dionysius: we also think that Bacchylides and Elpistus were Bishops in the same regions on the Euxine Sea. But let us return to the other epistles written by Saint Dionysius, thus indicated by the same Eusebius.

[4] 7 to the Romans: "There is extant also an epistle of the same Dionysius to the Romans, addressed to Soter, at that time Bishop of the Roman city: from which it will not be out of place to insert a few things here: where namely he, greatly commending the custom and institution of the Romans, perpetually kept even to the persecution made in our age, thus writes: 'For this,' he says, 'is your custom, from the very beginning of religion, that you affect all the brethren with various kinds of benefits, and transmit to the very many Churches which are established in individual cities the necessary supports of life. He praises their benefactions and alms, And by this means you both relieve the poverty of the needy, and supply to the brethren who work in the mines things necessary: by these gifts which from the beginning you have been accustomed to transmit, the Romans retaining the custom and institution of the Romans received from your ancestors. and especially of Saint Soter the Pope: And this custom your blessed Bishop Soter has not only preserved, but even increased: both abundantly supplying gifts destined for the saints; and consoling the brethren coming from abroad, as a most loving father his own children, with blessed discourses.' In this same epistle also he mentions the epistle of Clement to the Corinthians, which he testifies to have been read in the church according to ancient custom, in these words: 'Today,' he says, 'we have passed the sacred Lord's day, on which we read your epistle, which indeed reading perpetually hereafter, just as the former one written to us by Clement, we shall abound in the best precepts and documents.' The same writer moreover warns that his epistles have been corrupted by forgers, thus writing: 'Epistles,' he says, 'I have written at the request of the brethren; but these certain ministers of the devil have filled with tares, striking out some things from them, and he laments that his epistles have been corrupted: adding others: upon whom certainly awaits that deadly sentence: Woe to you. It ought not therefore to seem strange if certain men have dared to adulterate the sacrosanct Scriptures of the Lord; since in far inferior writings they are found to have dared the same.' 8 to Chrysophora: There is moreover another epistle of the same to Chrysophora, a most faithful sister, to whom writing suitable things, he supplies spiritual food, as was fitting. And these things have been said by us concerning the writings of Dionysius." Thus far Eusebius. The Chrysophora here mentioned at the end, called from the inscription, as we think, of Saint Dionysius πιστοτάτην ἀδελφὴν, "most faithful sister," or "fullest of faith," we suppose to have been an illustrious matron, or a Virgin consecrated and devoted to God, and therefore called "sister" according to the custom of that age. But Saint Soter, to whom the former epistle to the Romans was inscribed, presided as Supreme Pontiff over the Church for nine years and some months (in the times of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus and Lucius Aelius Verus, brothers) from the year of Christ 162 until the year 171 and the 22nd day of April, where at his Life an exact account of the time during which he sat is assigned. From the same epistle of Saint Dionysius to the Romans Eusebius, book 2, chapter 25, brings forward an illustrious testimony concerning the martyrdom of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, which we add here, thus he writes: "Moreover that both suffered martyrdom at one and the same time, Dionysius Bishop of the Corinthians, writing to the Romans, testifies in these words: 'Thus also you,' he says, 'by such admonition of yours have mingled together the seed which had grown from the sowing of Peter and Paul, namely the Romans and the Corinthians. [he testifies that the martyrdom of Saints Peter and Paul took place at the same time.] For both of them, having entered into our city of Corinth, instructed us by sowing the seed of the Gospel doctrine: and having set out together for Italy, when they had similarly instructed you, they suffered martyrdom at the same time.'" The same Eusebius in the Chronicle at the consulship of Severus II and Herennianus, or the year of Christ 171, has these things: "Dionysius Bishop of Corinth, a man conspicuous for religion, was renowned." Which same things are plainly read in the Chronography of George Syncellus, and in the Ecclesiastical History of Anastasius Bibliothecarius. Saint Jerome in the book On Ecclesiastical Writers, chapter 27, enumerates the epistles of Saint Dionysius, adding some eulogy, but already related by us from Eusebius. [Concerning the Hebrew baptized in sand, Dionysius Bishop of Ascalon gave judgment,]

[5] John Moschus in the Spiritual Meadow, or book 10 On the Lives of the Fathers, chapter 176, describes the pilgrimage of ten men, among whom was a certain Hebrew: who having asked for baptism in the peril of death, since water was lacking, was sprinkled with sand in the form of baptism and was healed; but by Dionysius Bishop of Ascalon, when the whole matter had been discussed, he was ordered to be baptized in the Jordan. One of these pilgrims was a certain youth, Andrew by name, who, having become an elder and Abbot, narrated at Alexandria to John Moschus, so that this thing happened at least in the sixth century of Christ. Nicephorus Callistus narrates the said history in book 3, chapter 37, but not without errors, when he asserts that it happened while Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was still administering the Empire, not an Alexandrian, and that Dionysius the Alexandrian Bishop pronounced that he was to be washed with water, and thus what was lacking to the Sacrament was to be repaired. Baronius refers that history to the year of Christ 181, nor of the Corinthians: and corrected that Dionysius was Bishop of the Corinthians, because the other Dionysius the Alexandrian Bishop was a younger one and did not live in the times of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. But as we have already said from John Moschus, Dionysius was Bishop of the Ascalonites, whether this was the Master of Clement of Alexandria. and the matter happened several centuries after these times. Finally, it is not clear whether Clement of Alexandria used as his master in Greece Saint Dionysius Bishop of the Corinthians, which Baronius at the year 183 conjectured.

CHAPTER II.

The manner of his death. His sacred cultus among the Greeks and Latins. His body brought to Paris. The history of the Translation.

[6] He is held as a Martyr by Cedrenus, Writers do not sufficiently agree as to by what kind of death Saint Dionysius passed away. Cedrenus, after relating the death of Emperor Antoninus Pius and the transfer of the Empire to his son-in-law Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, adds: "Under him Polycarp, the disciple of John the Evangelist, and Justin the Philosopher, and Dionysius Bishop of Corinth, were affected with martyrdom." and Glycas, And Michael Glycas, who also flourished in the twelfth century with Cedrenus, says: "After Hadrian, Antoninus, surnamed Pius because of the gravity of his morals, reigned for 22 years: under whom Justin the Philosopher and Dionysius the Bishop of Corinth, that they might be a testimony of Christian doctrine, lost their lives." But under Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Saint Polycarp suffered; Justin probably under Verus and Commodus: of the former we have treated on January 26, of the latter we shall treat below on April 13. That Saint Dionysius flourished under the aforesaid Marcus Aurelius Antoninus is most certain from what has been said above. and by the Greeks in the Menaia: The Greeks in the Great Menaia and in Maximus of Cythera celebrate on November 29 Saint Dionysius Bishop of the Corinthians, who fell, struck by the sword. In the Menaia are added these verses:

Διονύσιος εἷς τελῶν θυηπόλων, Ξίφος μετελθὼν εἷς τελεῖ καὶ Μαρτύρων.

Dionysius, one of the choir of Bishops, Subjected to the sword, becomes one also of the choir of Martyrs.

[7] By the Latins he is referred to without martyrdom on March 22, On the contrary, the sacred calendars of the Latins without any mention of martyrdom celebrate his memory on March 22 and on this April 8: and on the former day in the manuscripts at Centula of Saint Richarius, at Liège of Saint Lambert, and in another of ours under the name of Bede, likewise in the Liège manuscript of Saint Laurence under the name of Ado, and in the Brussels manuscript of Saint Gudula under the name of Usuard, they have these things in exactly the same words: "At Corinth, Blessed Dionysius the Bishop, whose learning and grace which he had in the word of God, many enjoy to this day." In the manuscript Florarium Sanctorum and some others he is mentioned without a eulogy. and on April 8. But on this April 8, with the same eulogy already given, in Usuard, Bellinus, Maurolycus, Molanus, and others, these things are added at the end: "This elect of Christ flourished in the times of Marcus Antoninus and Lucius Aurelius." In the present-day tables of the Roman Martyrology this encomium of his is recited: "At Corinth, Blessed Dionysius the Bishop, who by his learning and the grace which he had in the word of God, instructed by his epistles not only the peoples of his own city and province, but also the bishops of other provinces and cities, and so venerated the Roman Pontiffs that he was accustomed to read their epistles publicly in the church on the Lord's days. He flourished in the times of Marcus Antoninus Verus and Lucius Aurelius Commodus." In the Martyrologies of Cologne and Lübeck printed in the year 1490, and in the Viola Sanctorum printed at Hagenau in the year 1508, he is said to have rested in Christ with a blessed end. The same things has Peter de Natalibus, book 4 of his Catalogue, chapter 37. In the Nativities of the Holy Canons edited by Ghinius, it is handed down that he fell asleep in the Lord at Corinth, on the sixth day before the Ides of April, about the year of the Redeemer 180.

[8] The body brought to Paris to the Monastery of Saint Dionysius. André Saussay, on account of the relics brought to Gaul, celebrates him on this April 8 with a long encomium, in these words: "In the territory of Paris, in the famous monastery of Saint Dionysius, the celebration of the birth of Saint Dionysius Bishop of the Corinthians, distinguished in doctrine and pious deeds, whose illustrious epistles which he wrote to the Churches brought very much usefulness to Christian matters. His sacred body, however, brought from the East to Rome, and by Pope Innocent III given to Prior Emeric, was thence by him brought into Gaul to the aforesaid monastery, and placed in a magnificent reliquary, rests properly in a higher place in the altar, and today is shown with great reverence to pious visitors: to whom the aforesaid Pontiff granted abundant gifts of indulgences in perpetuity for the greater honoring of so great a Saint." Jacobus Breulius and Claudius Malingraeus treat of the same relics in their historical commentaries on the city and diocese of Paris, book 4. We also, returning from our Roman journey through Gaul, stopped for some months at Paris in the year 1662, and piously venerated these sacred relics and others, History of the Translation from MS. which are preserved in the said monastery, and we found the History of the Translation in the illustrious library of the monastery of the Canons Regular of Saint Victor, in the codex marked number 873, which, copied from there, we give here.

[9] "In the year from the Incarnation of the Lord 1215, Innocent III, Pope of the holy Roman Church, summoned a general Council to the City. Pope Innocent III, after the Lateran Council, To this Council came from every nation under heaven Pastors and Prelates of holy Mother Church, namely Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, and Abbots, and persons of lower grade and order, of whom there was no number. Kings also and Princes of diverse peoples were present either in person or through messengers: but the venerable Abbot of Blessed Dionysius the Areopagite, Henry by name, was unable to be present with the others, because the weakness of advanced age did not permit. He sent however for himself and for his church a religious and honorable man Emeric, Master Prior, with other persons of the same church, who in his place, as they best could, might present themselves to the presence of the Lord Pope. He hands over the body of Saint Dionysius to Prior Emeric: The Council having been dissolved, license was granted to each to depart. The Lord Pope, however, wishing to make manifest to all the benevolence and grace and pious affection of love which he then had and had always had toward the venerable monastery of Blessed Dionysius, called to himself the aforesaid Emeric and his companions, and as a pledge of perpetual charity gave them a priceless treasure, namely the Body of the most holy Dionysius Confessor, Bishop of the Corinthians, so that they should bring it with them with due honor into France, and on his behalf present it with all reverence to the church of Blessed Dionysius. He also gave them testimonial letters of his gift, strengthened with the seal of the holy Apostolic See. But they, receiving with fitting thanksgivings so noble, so holy, so finally venerable a deposit, gladdened by the gratuitous munificence of the supreme Pontiff, as quickly as they could, returned to France. When they had approached the church of Blessed Dionysius-of-the-Road on the 9th day before the Kalends of March, namely on the first Sabbath, which is called the Lord's day, the venerable Abbot and the convent met them with a solemn procession, clothed in albs and silken copes, with candles lit, solemnly received on February 21, 1216: bells pealing, and all the Clergy and people accompanying: and thus with hymns and praises the glorious Confessor and Bishop of the Corinthians Dionysius was brought into the church of the most holy Areopagite Dionysius, and a great Mass of that Confessor was solemnly celebrated in solemn vestments, and he was placed in a becomingly composed ivory vessel within the apse, which is situated over the bodies of the Holy Martyrs behind the altar in the Holy of Holies. But since the manner and cause of this Apostolic donation, and the indulgence which was granted by the same to all who should devoutly approach to honor the sacred relics of this Holy Confessor, is most fully contained in the authentic document of the same, we have taken care to subjoin it in this place, so that the truth of the matter may be more certainly known not only by those present but also by posterity.

[10] Bull of donation, "Innocent Bishop, Servant of the Servants of God, to his beloved sons the Abbot and Convent of Saint Dionysius of Paris, greeting and Apostolic benediction. Whether the glorious Martyr and Bishop Dionysius, whose venerable body rests in your church, is to be reckoned as that one who is called the Areopagite, converted by the Apostle Paul, there are divers opinions of divers men. For some affirm that Dionysius the Areopagite died and was buried in Greece, and that there was another Dionysius who preached the faith of Christ to the peoples of the Franks: others, however, assert that he came to Rome after the death of Blessed Paul, and was sent into Gaul by Saint Clement the Pope, and that there was another who died in Greece and was buried; both, however, being excellent in work and famous in word. We, therefore, wishing to prejudice neither opinion, but desiring to honor your monastery, which belongs immediately to the Roman Church, devoutly send to you the sacred pledge of Blessed Dionysius, which Peter* of good memory, Cardinal Priest of the title of Saint Marcellus, then Legate of the Apostolic See, brought from Greece to the City, through the beloved sons Emeric the Prior and certain others, messengers of your monastery sent to the general Council; so that since you shall have both relics, no doubt may thereafter remain but that the sacred relics of Blessed Dionysius the Areopagite are held at your monastery: do you, therefore, reverently receive them, repaying us this exchange, that in your prayers a spiritual commemoration of us always be made to God, and according to the offering of these same messengers of yours, the anniversary of our death be solemnly celebrated. To all, however, who shall devoutly come together to venerate these sacred relics, we relax forty days of the penances enjoined on them by Apostolic authority. Indulgences granted. Let no man therefore be allowed at all to break this page of our grant and remission, or with rash audacity to go against it: if anyone, however, shall presume to attempt this, let him know that he will incur the indignation of Almighty God and of His blessed Apostles Peter and Paul. Given at the Lateran, on the day before the Nones of January, in the 18th year of our Pontificate." Thus far the Bull of Innocent III. But different from Dionysius Bishop of Corinth is, as cited above by him, Dionysius the Areopagite Bishop of the Athenians, concerning whose sacred Relics another and very different controversy is agitated, to be treated in its own time: and some things are insinuated on April 19 in the Life of Saint Leo Pope IX, who records that the body of Saint Dionysius the Areopagite is preserved at Ratisbon, by a diploma sent on this matter in the year 1052 to the King of the Franks and the other prelates and subjects of this kingdom.

* alias Peter,