Dionysius of Alexandria, Saint
Dionysius of Alexandria, Saint
(born c.190 ) Bishop of Alexandria . He studied under Origen , and eventually became the head of the catechetical school . In 250 there was a severe persecution under Decius in Alexandria , which Dionysius attempted to flee, but was taken into custody. He was rescued by Christians and remained in hiding in the Libyan desert until the persecution ceased, 251 . At this juncture the Novatian schism occurred in which Dionysius supported Cornelius , the rightful pope, and it was largely through his influence that the whole East was unified. During the persecution of Valerian, he was banished, 257 , to the desert of Mareotis, returning to Alexandria when toleration was decreed, 260 , by Gallienus. Dionysius dealt leniently with the Christians who had lapsed during the persecutions and refused forgiveness to none at the hour of death . He wrote a work on the Apocalypse , which ranks high as biblical criticism .