Pope Dionysius of Alexandria: Difference between revisions

Pope Saint

Dionysius the Great
Pope Saint; Dionysius the Great
Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria
	Pope Dionysius the Great
Archdiocese	Alexandria
See	Alexandria
Papacy began	28 December 248
Papacy ended	22 March 264
Predecessor	Heraclas
Successor	Maximus
Personal details
Born	Alexandria, Egypt
Died	22 March 264; Egypt
Buried	Church of the Cave, Alexandria
Nationality	Egyptian
Alma mater	Catechetical School of Alexandria
Sainthood
Feast day	13 Paremhat (Coptic Christianity); 8 April
Venerated in	Catholicism; Eastern Orthodoxy; Oriental Orthodoxy

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Dionysius the Great (Ancient Greek: Διονύσιος Ἀλεξανδρείας) was the 14th Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria from 28 December 248 until his death on 22 March 264. Most information known about him comes from a large corpus of correspondence. Only one complete letter survives; the remaining letters are excerpted in the works of Eusebius.

Called "the Great" by Eusebius, Basil of Caesarea and others, he was characterized by the Catholic Encyclopedia as "undoubtedly, after St. Cyprian, the most eminent bishop of the third century... like St. Cyprian, less a great theologian than a great administrator."^[3]

Early life

Dionysius was born to a wealthy polytheistic family sometime in the late 2nd, or early 3rd century. He spent most of his life reading books and carefully studying the traditions of polytheists. He converted to Christianity at a mature age and discussed his conversion experience with Philemon, a presbyter of Pope Sixtus II.^[3] Dionysius converted to Christianity when he had a vision from God, in which he was commanded to study and refute the heresies facing the early Christians. After his conversion, he joined the Catechetical School of Alexandria and was a student of Origen and Pope Heraclas. He eventually became leader of the school and presbyter of the church, succeeding Pope Heraclas in 231. In 248, Dionysius succeeded Pope Heraclas, becoming Pope of the church of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark.^[3]

Life as Pope of Alexandria

Dionysius was a more able administrator than theologian.^[3] Information on his work as Bishop of Alexandria is found in Dionysius' correspondence with other bishops and clergymen of the third century Catholic Church. Dionysius’ correspondences included interpretations on the Gospel of Luke, the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation.^[4]

During 249, a major persecution was carried out in Alexandria by a polytheist mob, and hundreds of Christians were assaulted, stoned, burned or cut down on account of their refusal to deny their faith. Dionysius managed to survive that persecution and subsequent civil war. In January 250, the new emperor Decius issued a decree of legal persecution. Out of fear, many Christians denied their faith by offering a token polytheist sacrifice, and others attempted to obtain false documents affirming their sacrifice. Those who refused to sacrifice faced public ridicule and shame and, if found by the authorities, torture and execution. Many fled from the city into the desert, where most succumbed to exposure, hunger, thirst, or attacks by bandits or wild animals.^[5]

Dionysius himself was pursued by the prefect Aurelius Appius Sabinus, who had sent an assassin to murder him on sight. Dionysius spent three days in hiding before departing on the fourth night of the Decian decree with his servants and other loyal brethren. After a brush with a group of soldiers, he managed to escape with two of his followers, and set up a residence in the Libyan desert until the end of the persecution the following year.^[5]

He supported Pope Cornelius in the controversy of 251, arising when Novatian, a learned presbyter of the Church at Rome, set up a schismatic church with a rigorist position against communing Christians who had apostatized during the persecution. In opposition to Novatian's teaching, Dionysius ordered that the Eucharist should be refused to no one who asked it at the hour of death, even those who had previously lapsed.^[6]

In 252, an outbreak of plague ravaged Alexandria, and Dionysius—along with other clergy—assisted the sick and dying.^[5]

Christian persecutions subsided somewhat under Trebonianus Gallus, but were renewed under his successor Valerian. Dionysius was imprisoned and then exiled under Valerian. When Gallienus took over the empire, he released all the believers who were in prison and brought back those in exile. Gallienus wrote to Dionysius and other bishops a letter ensuring their safety and ability to reopen their churches.^[7]

During the debate between Pope Stephen and Cyprian, Dionysius supported the position of the Stephen but supported the autonomy of the African churches.^[8]

Legacy

Basil of Caesarea wrote to Pope Damasus I about aid sent, by Dionysius, to the church at Caesarea. That correspondence is cited by Pope Pius IX in his encyclical Praedecessores Nostros (On Aid For Ireland) of 25 March 1847.^[9]

References

External links

Works by Saint Dionysius at Project Gutenberg
Works by or about Saint Dionysius at the Internet Archive
The works of Gregory Thaumaturgus, Dionysius of Alexandria and Archelaus, trans. S. D. F. Salmond, Edinburgh, T. & T. Clark, 1871: Google Books, archive.org
F. C. Conybeare, "Dionysius of Alexandria, Newly discovered letters to the Popes Stephen and Xystus", English Historical Review 25 (1910) pp. 111-114 (tertullian.org copy)
Bishop of Alexandria, Saint Dionysius, "St. Dionysius of Alexandria Letters and Treatises", edited by Charles Lett Feltoe, The MacMillin Company, London, 1918
Works by Pope Dionysius of Alexandria at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)

Titles of the Great Christian Church
Preceded by Heraclas	Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria 248—264	Succeeded by Maximus

[1] "Baramhat 13 : Lives of Saints : Synaxarium - CopticChurch.net".

[2] Martyrologium Romanum

[cathen-3] Chapman, John. "Dionysius of Alexandria." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 6 Apr. 2013

[4] Kiefer, James E., "Dionysius of Alexandria, Bishop and Scholar", Biographical sketches of memorable Christians of the past

[college-5] "Saint Dionysius", The College of Saint Dionysius

[butler-6] Butler, Alban. Lives of the Saints, Vol. XI, 1866

[coptic-7] "The Story of Abba Dionysius", Coptic Orthodox Church

[8] "Saint Dionysius of Alexandria | Christian theologian | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 22 April 2022.

[9] Pope Pius IX, Praedecessors Nostros, 25 March 1847

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{about|the Bishop and Pope of Alexandria|the topographical poet (sometimes known as Dionysius of Alexandria)|Dionysius Periegetes}}
+{{about|the bishop of Alexandria|the topographical poet|Dionysius Periegetes}}
+{{Short description|Head of the Church in Alexandria from 248 to 264}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
-{{Infobox Coptic Pope
+{{Infobox Christian leader
 | type = Pope
-| honorific-prefix = Saint
+| honorific-prefix = [[Pope]] [[Saint]]
 | name = Dionysius the Great
 | honorific-suffix =
-| title = [[Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark]]
+| title = [[List of Patriarchs of Alexandria|Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria]]
 | image = Dionisii alek.jpg
 | imagesize=250px
 | caption = Pope Dionysius the Great
+| archdiocese = [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria]]
-| church =
+| see = [[Patriarch of Alexandria|Alexandria]]
 | enthroned = 28 December 248
 | ended = 22 March 264
@@ Line 21: / Line 23: @@
 | death_date = 22 March 264
 | death_place = [[Egypt]]
-|feast_day=13 [[Paremhat]] ([[Coptic Christianity]])<ref>http://www.copticchurch.net/synaxarium/7_13.html#1</ref><br>17 November{{citation needed}}
+|feast_day=13 [[Paremhat]] ([[Coptic Christianity]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.copticchurch.net/synaxarium/7_13.html#1|title = Baramhat 13 : Lives of Saints : Synaxarium - CopticChurch.net}}</ref><br>8 April<ref>[[Martyrologium Romanum]]</ref>
-| venerated=[[Roman Catholicism]]<br/>[[Eastern Orthodoxy]]<br/>[[Oriental Orthodoxy]]
+| venerated=[[Catholicism]]<br/>[[Eastern Orthodoxy]]<br/>[[Oriental Orthodoxy]]
-| saint_title= [[Christian martyrs|Martyr]]
+| saint_title=
 | buried = Church of the Cave, [[Alexandria]]
 | nationality = [[Egypt]]ian
-| religion     = [[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Coptic]] <ref> Eusebius of Caesarea, the author of Ecclesiastical History in the 4th century, states that Saint Mark came to Egypt in the first or third year of the reign of Emperor Claudius, i.e. 41 or 43 A.D. "Two Thousand years of Coptic Christianity" Otto F. A. Meinardus p28.</ref> (Before the Split from the rest of the Catholic Church.)
-| residence =
 | alma_mater = [[Catechetical School of Alexandria]]
 }}
+'''Dionysius the Great''' ({{langx|grc|Διονύσιος Ἀλεξανδρείας}}) was the 14th [[List of Patriarchs of Alexandria|Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria]] from 28 December 248 until his death on 22 March 264. Most information known about him comes from a large corpus of correspondence. Only one complete letter survives; the remaining letters are excerpted in the works of [[Eusebius]].
+Called "the Great" by Eusebius, [[Basil of Caesarea]] and others, he was characterized by the ''[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]'' as "undoubtedly, after [[Cyprian|St. Cyprian]], the most eminent bishop of the third century... like St. Cyprian, less a great theologian than a great administrator."<ref name="cathen"/>
-'''Saint Dionysius of Alexandria''', named "the Great," [[List of Coptic Orthodox Popes of Alexandria|14th Pope of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark]] from 28 December 248 until his death on 22 March 264, after seventeen years as a bishop. Most known information about him comes from Dionysius' large surviving correspondence. Only one original letter survives to this day; the remaining letters are excerpted in the works of [[Eusebius]].
-Called "the Great" by Eusebius, [[St. Basil]], and others, he was characterized by the [[Catholic Encyclopedia]] as "undoubtedly, after [[St. Cyprian]], the most eminent bishop of the third century... like St. Cyprian, less a great theologian than a great administrator."<ref name="cathen"/>
 ==Early life==
-Dionysius was born to a wealthy polytheistic family sometime in the late 2nd, or early 3rd century. He spent most of his life reading books and carefully studying the traditions of polytheists. He converted to Christianity at a mature age and discussed his conversion experience with Philemon, a presbyter of [[Pope Sixtus II]].<ref name = cathen>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05011a.htm Chapman, John. "Dionysius of Alexandria." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 6 Apr. 2013 ]</ref> Dionysius converted to Christianity when he received a vision sent from God; in it he was commanded to vigorously study the heresies facing the Christian Church so that he could refute them through doctrinal study. After his conversion, he joined the [[Catechetical School of Alexandria]] and was a student of [[Origen]] and [[Pope Heraclas of Alexandria|Pope Heraclas]]. He eventually became leader of the school and presbyter of the Christian church, succeeding Pope Heraclas in 231. Later he became Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria & Patriarch of the See of St. Mark in 248 after the death of Pope Heraclas.<ref name = cathen/>
+Dionysius was born to a wealthy [[Polytheism|polytheistic]] family sometime in the late 2nd, or early 3rd century. He spent most of his life reading books and carefully studying the traditions of polytheists. He converted to Christianity at a mature age and discussed his conversion experience with Philemon, a presbyter of [[Pope Sixtus II]].<ref name = cathen>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05011a.htm Chapman, John. "Dionysius of Alexandria." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 6 Apr. 2013 ]</ref> Dionysius converted to Christianity when he had a vision from God, in which he was commanded to study and refute the heresies facing the early Christians. After his conversion, he joined the [[Catechetical School of Alexandria]] and was a student of [[Origen]] and [[Pope Heraclas of Alexandria|Pope Heraclas]]. He eventually became leader of the school and presbyter of the church, succeeding Pope Heraclas in 231. In 248, Dionysius succeeded Pope Heraclas, becoming Pope of the church of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark.<ref name = cathen/>
-==Work as Bishop of Alexandria==
+==Life as Pope of Alexandria==
-Dionysius was more an able administrator than a great theologian.<ref name = cathen/> Information on his work as Bishop of Alexandria is found in Dionysius' correspondence with other bishops and clergymen of the third century Christian Church.  Dionysius’ correspondences included interpretations on the [[Gospel of Luke]], the [[Gospel of John]] and the [[Book of Revelation]].
+Dionysius was a more able administrator than theologian.<ref name = cathen/> Information on his work as Bishop of Alexandria is found in Dionysius' correspondence with other bishops and clergymen of the third century Catholic Church. Dionysius’ correspondences included interpretations on the [[Gospel of Luke]], the [[Gospel of John]] and the [[Book of Revelation]].<ref>[http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/288.html Kiefer, James E., "Dionysius of Alexandria, Bishop and Scholar", Biographical sketches of memorable Christians of the past]</ref>
-During 249, a major persecution was carried out in Alexandria by a polytheist mob, and hundreds were assaulted, stoned, burned or cut down on account of their refusal to deny their faith. Dionysius managed to survive this persecution and the civil war that followed. In January 250 the new emperor [[Decius]] issued a decree of [[Decian persecution|legal persecution]]. Out of fear many Christians denied their faith by offering a token polytheist sacrifice, while others attempted to obtain false documents affirming their sacrifice. Others who refused to sacrifice faced public ridicule and shame among their family and friends, and, if found by the authorities, brutal torture and execution. Many fled from the city into the desert, where most succumbed to exposure, hunger, thirst, or attacks by bandits or wild animals.<ref name=college>[http://stdionysius.sca.org.nz/dionysius.html "Saint Dionysius", The College of Saint Dionysius]</ref>
+During 249, a major persecution was carried out in Alexandria by a polytheist mob, and hundreds of Christians were assaulted, stoned, burned or cut down on account of their refusal to deny their faith. Dionysius managed to survive that persecution and subsequent civil war. In January 250, the new emperor [[Decius]] issued a decree of [[Decian persecution|legal persecution]]. Out of fear, many Christians denied their faith by offering a token polytheist sacrifice, and others attempted to obtain false documents affirming their sacrifice. Those who refused to sacrifice faced public ridicule and shame and, if found by the authorities, torture and execution. Many fled from the city into the desert, where most succumbed to exposure, hunger, thirst, or attacks by bandits or wild animals.<ref name=college>[http://stdionysius.sca.org.nz/dionysius.html "Saint Dionysius", The College of Saint Dionysius]</ref>
-Dionysius himself was pursued by the prefect Sabinus, who had sent out an assassin to murder him on sight. Dionysius spent three days in hiding before departing on the fourth night of the Decian decree with his servants and other loyal brethren. After a brush with a group of soldiers, he managed to escape with two of his followers, and set up a residence in the Libyan desert until the end of the persecution the following year.<ref name=college/>
+Dionysius himself was pursued by the prefect [[Aurelius Appius Sabinus]], who had sent an assassin to murder him on sight. Dionysius spent three days in hiding before departing on the fourth night of the Decian decree with his servants and other loyal brethren. After a brush with a group of soldiers, he managed to escape with two of his followers, and set up a residence in the Libyan desert until the end of the persecution the following year.<ref name=college/>
-He supported [[Pope Cornelius]] in the controversy of 251, arising when [[Novatian]], a learned presbyter of the Church at Rome, set up a schismatic church with a rigorist position on the readmittance of Christians who had [[Lapsi (Christianity)|apostasized during the persecution]]. In opposition to Novatian's teaching, Dionysius ordered that the [[Eucharist]] should be refused to no one who asked it at the hour of death, even those who had previously lapsed.<ref name=butler>[http://www.bartleby.com/210/11/172.html Butler, Alban. ''Lives of the Saints'', Vol. XI, 1866]</ref>
+He supported [[Pope Cornelius]] in the controversy of 251, arising when [[Novatian]], a learned presbyter of the Church at Rome, set up a schismatic church with a rigorist position against communing Christians who had [[Apostasy|apostatized]] during the persecution. In opposition to Novatian's teaching, Dionysius ordered that the [[Eucharist]] should be refused to no one who asked it at the hour of death, even those who had previously [[Lapsi (Christianity)|lapsed]].<ref name=butler>[http://www.bartleby.com/210/11/172.html Butler, Alban. ''Lives of the Saints'', Vol. XI, 1866]</ref>
-In 252 an outbreak of plague ravaged Alexandria, and Dionysius, along with other priests and deacons, took it upon themselves to assist the sick and dying.<ref Name=college/>
+In 252, an outbreak of plague ravaged Alexandria, and Dionysius—along with other clergy—assisted the sick and dying.<ref Name=college/>
-The persecutions subsided somewhat under [[Trebonianus Gallus]], but were renewed under [[Valerian (emperor)|Valerian]] who replaced Gallus. Dionysius was imprisoned and then exiled. When [[Gallienus]], took over the empire he released all the believers who were in prison and brought back those in exile. Gallienus wrote to Dionysius and the bishops a letter to assure their safety in opening the churches.<ref name=coptic>[http://www.copticchurch.net/topics/synexarion/popeDionysius.html "The Story of Abba Dionysius", Coptic Orthodox Church]</ref>
+Christian persecutions subsided somewhat under [[Trebonianus Gallus]], but were renewed under his successor [[Valerian (emperor)|Valerian]]. Dionysius was imprisoned and then exiled under Valerian. When [[Gallienus]] took over the empire, he released all the believers who were in prison and brought back those in exile. Gallienus wrote to Dionysius and other bishops a letter ensuring their safety and ability to reopen their churches.<ref name=coptic>[http://www.copticchurch.net/topics/synexarion/popeDionysius.html "The Story of Abba Dionysius", Coptic Orthodox Church]</ref>
+During the debate between [[Pope Stephen I|Pope Stephen]] and [[Cyprian]], Dionysius supported the position of the Stephen but supported the autonomy of the African churches.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saint Dionysius of Alexandria {{!}} Christian theologian {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Dionysius-of-Alexandria |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>
-==Prophetic exegesis==
-About AD 255 a dispute arose concerning the [[millennialism|millennialist]] views taught in ''[[Refutation of Allegorists]]'', by [[Book of Nepos|Nepos]], a bishop in Egypt, which insisted on the interpretation of [[Book of Revelation|Revelation]] Chapter 20 as denoting a literal "millennium of bodily luxury" on earth. Because he was taught by [[Origen]], Dionysius succeeded through his oral and written efforts in checking this [[Egypt|Egyptian]] revival of [[millennialism]]. He offered some critical grounds to reject the [[Book of Revelation]], such as an alleged difference in style and diction from John's Gospel and Epistles. Dionysius main position was to claim it was not written by [[John the Apostle|John]]: " 'I could not venture to reject the book, as many brethren hold it in high esteem,' " yet he ascribed it to another John - some "holy and inspired man" - but not the apostle [[John the Apostle|John]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Eusebius|title=Church History |volume=7|chapter=25|p=309|ref=harv}}</ref>
-His impact was felt in later years concerning the canonicity of the Apocalypse, causing much dialogue in the church, lingering in the East for several centuries. Thus it was that certain leaders began to retreat from millennialism in precisely the same quantity as philosophical theology became influential.{{sfn|Froom|1950|pp=325–326}}
 ==Legacy==
-St. Basil writes to Pope [[Pope Damasus I|Damasus]] speaking of aid sent by Pope St. Dionysius, to the church at [[Caesarea]]. This correspondence is cited by [[Pope Pius IX]] in his encyclical ''[[Praedecessores nostros|Praedecessores Nostros]] (On Aid For Ireland)'' of 25 March 1847.<ref>[http://www.ewtn.com/library/encyc/p9praede.htm Pope Pius IX, ''Praedecessors Nostros'', 25 March 1847]</ref>
+[[Basil of Caesarea]] wrote to [[Pope Damasus I]] about aid sent, by Dionysius, to the church at [[Caesarea Maritima|Caesarea]]. That correspondence is cited by [[Pope Pius IX]] in his encyclical ''[[Praedecessores nostros|Praedecessores Nostros]] (On Aid For Ireland)'' of 25 March 1847.<ref>[http://www.ewtn.com/library/encyc/p9praede.htm Pope Pius IX, ''Praedecessors Nostros'', 25 March 1847]</ref>
-==Footnotes==
+==References==
 {{Reflist}}
-==References==
-* {{cite book|last=Froom|first=LeRoy|authorlink=Le Roy Froom|title=The Prophetic Faith of our Fathers| volume= 1| year=1950|ref=harv| url=http://docs.adventistarchives.org//doc_info.asp?DocID=42770|format={{DjVulink}} and PDF}}
 ==External links==
-* {{Gutenberg author | id=Dionysius,+Saint | name=Saint Dionysius}}
+* {{Gutenberg author | id=38337| name=Saint Dionysius}}
 * {{Internet Archive author |search=( Dionysius AND (Pope OR Saint OR St.) AND (Alexandria OR Great) ) |dname=Saint Dionysius}}
 *''The works of Gregory Thaumaturgus, Dionysius of Alexandria and Archelaus'', trans. [[S. D. F. Salmond]], Edinburgh, T. & T. Clark, 1871: [https://books.google.com/books?id=4cYUAAAAQAAJ Google Books], [https://archive.org/details/worksofgregoryth00gregiala archive.org]
-*[http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/dionysius_alexandria_letters.htm Letters of Dionysius of Alexandria to the Popes Stephen and Xystus (tertullian.org)]
+*F. C. Conybeare, [http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/dionysius_alexandria_letters.htm "Dionysius of Alexandria, Newly discovered letters to the Popes Stephen and Xystus"], ''[[English Historical Review]]'' 25 (1910) pp. 111-114 (tertullian.org copy)
 *[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/36539/36539-h/36539-h.htm Bishop of Alexandria, Saint Dionysius, "St. Dionysius of Alexandria Letters and Treatises", edited by Charles Lett Feltoe, The MacMillin Company, London, 1918]
+* {{Librivox author |id=16449}}
 {{s-start}}
 {{s-rel|grt}}
 {{s-bef | before=[[Pope Heraclas of Alexandria|Heraclas]]}}
-{{s-ttl|title=[[Patriarch of Alexandria|Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria]]|years=248—264}}
+{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Patriarchs of Alexandria|Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria]]|years=248—264}}
 {{s-aft | after=[[Pope Maximus of Alexandria|Maximus]]}}
 {{s-end}}
 {{Patriarchs of Alexandria}}
+{{Catholic saints}}
+{{Subject bar |portal1=Saints |portal2= Biography |portal3= Christianity |portal4= Egypt}}
 {{Authority control}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Dionysius Of Alexandria}}
-[[Category:265 deaths]]
+[[Category:264 deaths]]
-[[Category:3rd-century archbishops]]
+[[Category:3rd-century Popes and Patriarchs of Alexandria]]
+[[Category:3rd-century Egyptian bishops]]
 [[Category:3rd-century Christian theologians]]
 [[Category:3rd-century Christian saints]]
 [[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
-[[Category:Popes of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria]]
-[[Category:Roman Catholic theologians]]
-[[Category:Greek Orthodox Patriarchs of Alexandria]]

v t e Patriarchs of Alexandria
Patriarchs prior to the Chalcedonian schism (43–451)	Mark I the Evangelist (founder) Anianus Avilius Kedronos Primus Justus Eumenius Markianos* Celadion Agrippinus Julian Demetrius I Heraclas Dionysius Maximus Theonas Peter I Achillas Alexander I Athanasius I Peter II Timothy I Theophilus I Cyril I Dioscorus I
Coptic Orthodox Popes and Patriarchs (451–present)	Timothy II Peter III Athanasius II John I John II Dioscorus II Timothy III Theodosius I Peter IV Damian Anastasius Andronicus Benjamin I Agathon John III Isaac Simeon I Alexander II Cosmas I Theodore I Michael I Mina I John IV Mark II James Simeon II Joseph I Michael II Cosmas II Shenouda I Michael III Gabriel I Cosmas III Macarius I Theophilus II Mina II Abraham Philotheos Zacharias Shenouda II Christodoulos Cyril II Michael IV Macarius II Gabriel II Michael V John V Mark III John VI Cyril III Athanasius III John VII Gabriel III John VII Theodosius III John VIII John IX Benjamin II Peter V Mark IV John X Gabriel IV Matthew I Gabriel V John XI Matthew II Gabriel VI Michael VI John XII John XIII Gabriel VII John XIV Gabriel VIII Mark V John XV Matthew III Mark VI Matthew IV John XVI Peter VI John XVII Mark VII John XVIII Mark VIII Peter VII Cyril IV Demetrius II Cyril V John XIX Macarius III Joseph II Cyril VI Shenouda III Tawadros II (current)
Greek Orthodox Popes and Patriarchs (451–present)	Proterius Timothy II Timothy III John I Peter III Athanasius II John II John III Dioscorus II Timothy IV Theodosius I Gaianus Paul Zoilus Apollinarius John IV Eulogius Theodore I John V George I Cyrus Peter IV Peter V Peter VI Cosmas I Politianus Eustatius Christopher I Sophronius I Michael I Michael II Christodoulos Eutychius Sophronius II Isaac Job Elias I Arsenius Theophilus II George II Leontius Alexander II John VI Cyril II Sabbas Sophronius III Elias II Eleutherius Mark III* Nicholas I Gregory I Nicholas II Athanasius III Gregory II Gregory III Niphon Mark IV Nicholas III Gregory IV Nicholas IV Athanasius IV Mark V Philotheus Mark VI Gregory V Joachim I Silvester Meletius I Pegas Cyril III Gerasimus I Metrophanes Nicephorus Joannicius Paisius Parthenius I Gerasimus II Samuel Cosmas II Cosmas III Matthew Cyprian Gerasimus III Parthenius II Theophilus III Hierotheus I Artemius Hierotheus II Callinicus Jacob Nicanor Nilus Sophronius IV Photius Meletius II Nicholas V Christopher II Nicholas VI Parthenius III Peter VII Theodore II (current)
Latin Catholic (1276–1954)	Atanasio (Athanasius) Egidio da Ferrara (Giles) ?Humbert II, Dauphin of Vienne Juan (John) Guillaume de Chanac Arnaud Bernard du Pouget (Arnaldo Bernardi) uncanonical Jean de Cardaillac Pietro Amely di Brunac ? Johannes Walteri von Sinten uncanonical Simon of Cramaud Pietro Amely di Brunac Leonardo Dolfin Ugo Roberti Pietro Amaury di Lordat Lancelotus de Navarra Giovanni Contarini Pietro Vitalis di Mauléon Giovanni Vitelleschi Marco Condulmer Jean d'Harcourt Arnaldo Rogerii de Palas Pedro de Urrea Pedro González de Mendoza Diego Hurtado de Mendoza Alonso de Fonseca y Acevedo Bernardino Carafa Cesare Riario Guido Ascanio Sforza di Santa Fiora Ottaviano Maria Sforza Julius Gonzaga Cristoforo Guidalotti Ciocchi del Monte Jacques Cortès Tommaso Alessandro Riario Enrico Caetani Giovanni Battista Albani Camillo Caetani Séraphin Olivier-Razali Alessandro di Sangro Honoratus Caetani Federico Borromeo Allesandro Crescenzi Aloysius Bevilacqua Petrus Draghi Bartoli Gregorio Giuseppe Gaetani de Aragonia Carlo Ambrosio Mezzabarba Filippo Carlo Spada Girolamo Crispi Giuseppe Antonio Davanzati Lodovico Agnello Anastasi Francisco Mattei Augustus Foscolo Paolo Angelo Ballerini Domenico Marinangeli Paolo de Huyn Luca Ermenegildo Pasetto
Melkite Catholic (1724–present)	Cyril VI Tanas Athanasius IV Jawhar Maximos II Hakim Theodosius V Dahan Athanasius IV Jawhar Cyril VII Siaj Agapius II Matar Ignatius IV Sarrouf Athanasius V Matar Macarius IV Tawil Ignatius V Qattan Maximos III Mazloum Clement Bahouth Gregory II Youssef-Sayur Peter IV Geraigiry Cyril VIII Geha Demetrius I Qadi Cyril IX Moghabghab Maximos IV Sayegh Maximos V Hakim Gregory III Laham Youssef I Absi
Coptic Catholic (1824–present)	Maximos Jouwed Kyrillos Makarios Stéphanos I Sidarouss Stéphanos II Ghattas Antonios I Naguib Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak
*Markianos is considered Mark II on the Greek side of the subsequent schism, hence this numbering of Mark III. Category Commons

v t e Saints of the Catholic Church
Dicastery for the Causes of Saints Stages of canonization: Servant of God → Venerable → Blessed → Saint
Virgin Mary	Mother of God (Theotokos) Immaculate Conception Perpetual virginity Assumption Marian apparition Titles of Mary Joseph (husband)
Apostles	Andrew Barnabas Bartholomew James of Alphaeus James the Great John Jude Matthew Matthias Paul Peter Philip Simon Thomas
Archangels	Gabriel Michael in the Catholic Church Raphael
Confessors	Anatolius Anthony of Kiev Athanasius the Confessor Chariton the Confessor Dominic Edward the Confessor Francis of Assisi Francis Borgia Homobonus Lazarus Zographos Louis Bertrand Maximus the Confessor Michael of Synnada Paphnutius the Confessor Paul I of Constantinople Peter Claver Salonius Sergius of Radonezh Theophanes the Confessor Pio of Pietrelcina
Disciples	Apollos Mary of Bethany Mary Magdalene Priscilla and Aquila Silvanus Stephen Timothy Titus Seventy disciples
Doctors of the Church	Gregory the Great Ambrose Augustine of Hippo Jerome John Chrysostom Basil of Caesarea Gregory of Nazianzus Athanasius of Alexandria Cyril of Alexandria Cyril of Jerusalem John of Damascus Bede the Venerable Ephrem the Syrian Thomas Aquinas Bonaventure Anselm of Canterbury Isidore of Seville Peter Chrysologus Leo the Great Peter Damian Bernard of Clairvaux Hilary of Poitiers Alphonsus Liguori Francis de Sales Peter Canisius John of the Cross Robert Bellarmine Albertus Magnus Anthony of Padua Lawrence of Brindisi Teresa of Ávila Catherine of Siena Thérèse of Lisieux John of Ávila Hildegard of Bingen Gregory of Narek Irenaeus
Evangelists	Matthew Mark Luke John
Church Fathers	Alexander of Alexandria Alexander of Jerusalem Ambrose of Milan Anatolius Athanasius of Alexandria Augustine of Hippo Caesarius of Arles Caius Cappadocian Fathers Clement of Alexandria Clement of Rome Cyprian of Carthage Cyril of Alexandria Cyril of Jerusalem Damasus I Desert Fathers Desert Mothers Dionysius of Alexandria Dionysius of Corinth Dionysius Ephrem the Syrian Epiphanius of Salamis Fulgentius of Ruspe Gregory the Great Gregory of Nazianzus Gregory of Nyssa Hilary of Poitiers Hippolytus of Rome Ignatius of Antioch Irenaeus of Lyons Isidore of Seville Jerome of Stridonium John Chrysostom John of Damascus Maximus the Confessor Melito of Sardis Quadratus of Athens Papias of Hierapolis Peter Chrysologus Polycarp of Smyrna Theophilus of Antioch Victorinus of Pettau Vincent of Lérins Zephyrinus
Martyrs	Abda and Abdisho Boris and Gleb Charles de Foucauld Canadian Martyrs Carthusian Martyrs Child Martyrs of Tlaxcala Christina of Persia Devasahayam Pillai Dismas the Good Thief Forty Martyrs of England and Wales Four Crowned Martyrs Gerard of Csanád Great Martyr The Holy Innocents Irish Martyrs John Fisher Korean Martyrs Lorenzo Ruiz Martyrs of Lübeck Luigi Versiglia Martyrology Martyrs of Albania Martyrs of Algeria Martyrs of Cajonos Martyrs of Drina Martyrs of China Martyrs of Gorkum Martyrs of Japan 21 Martyrs of Libya Martyrs of La Rioja Martyrs of Damascus Martyrs of Laos Martyrs of Natal Martyrs of Otranto Martyrs of Prague Martyrs of Sandomierz Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War Martyrs of Zenta Maximilian Kolbe Óscar Romero Pedro Calungsod Perpetua and Felicity Peter Chanel Pietro Parenzo Philomena Saints of the Cristero War Stephen Teresa Benedicta of the Cross Titus Brandsma 17 Thomasian Martyrs Thomas Becket Thomas More Three Martyrs of Chimbote Ulma Family Uganda Martyrs Vietnamese Martyrs Valentine of Rome Victor and Corona Zanitas and Lazarus of Persia
Missionaries	Augustine of Canterbury Boniface Damien of Molokai Evermode of Ratzeburg Francis Xavier François de Laval Gregory the Illuminator Junípero Serra Nino of Georgia Patrick of Ireland Remigius
Patriarchs	Adam Abel Abraham Isaac Jacob Joseph Joseph (father of Jesus) David Noah Solomon Matriarchs
Popes	Adeodatus I Adeodatus II Adrian III Agapetus I Agatho Alexander I Anacletus Anastasius I Anicetus Anterus Benedict II Boniface I Boniface IV Caius Callixtus I Celestine I Celestine V Clement I Cornelius Damasus I Dionysius Eleuterus Eugene I Eusebius Eutychian Evaristus Fabian Felix I Felix III Felix IV Gelasius I Gregory I Gregory II Gregory III Gregory VII Hilarius Hormisdas Hyginus Innocent I John I John XXIII John Paul II Julius I Leo I Leo II Leo III Leo IV Leo IX Linus Lucius I Marcellinus Marcellus I Mark Martin I Miltiades Nicholas I Paschal I Paul I Paul VI Peter Pius I Pius V Pius X Pontian Sergius I Silverius Simplicius Siricius Sixtus I Sixtus II Sixtus III Soter Stephen I Stephen IV Sylvester I Symmachus Telesphorus Urban I Victor I Vitalian Zachary Zephyrinus Zosimus
Prophets	Agabus Amos Anna Baruch ben Neriah David Elijah Ezekiel Habakkuk Haggai Hosea Isaiah Jeremiah Job Joel John the Baptist Jonah Judas Barsabbas Malachi Melchizedek Micah Moses Nahum Obadiah Samuel Seven Maccabees and their mother Simeon Zechariah (prophet) Zechariah (NT) Zephaniah
Virgins	Agatha of Sicily Agnes of Rome Angela of the Cross Æthelthryth Bernadette Soubirous Catherine of Bologna Brigid of Kildare Catherine Labouré Catherine of Siena Cecilia Clare of Assisi Eulalia of Mérida Euphemia Faustina Kowalska Faustina and Liberata of Como Genevieve Hiltrude of Liessies Joan of Arc Kateri Tekakwitha Lucy of Syracuse Maria Goretti María de las Maravillas de Jesús Narcisa de Jesús Patricia of Naples Rosalia Rose of Lima Teresa of the Andes Teresa of Calcutta Trasilla and Emiliana Ubaldesca Taccini Josephine Bakhita
See also	Calendar of saints Four Holy Marshals Fourteen Holy Helpers Martyr of charity Military saints Athleta Christi Miles Christianus Church Militant Seven Champions Virtuous pagan
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