Dionysios the Areopagite

Holy Hieromartyr Dionysios the Areopagite, first Bishop of Athens.

St. Dionysios the Areopagite was an Athenian of the first century, a member of the court of the Areopagus, converted when the Apostle Paul preached in Athens of the God whom the city honored without knowing. According to tradition he became the first Bishop of Athens and ended his life as a martyr.

He is the patron saint of the city of Athens, where his memory has been honored from ancient times. His feast is kept on October 3, a beloved name day for those called Dionysios and Dionysia.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Dionysios the Areopagite is commemorated on October 3. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on October 16 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Dionysios, Dionysis, Denis, Dionisis, Dionysius, Dennis

Also commemorated on October 3

• Damaris of Athens

  Holy Woman, Δάμαρις

  Saint Damaris of Athens, converted by the preaching of the Apostle Paul on the Areopagus.

  Name days: Damaris

• Rusticus and Eleutherius

  Martyr, Ρουστίκος και Ελευθέριος

  Holy Martyrs Rusticus the Presbyter and Eleutherius the Deacon, companions of Saint Dionysios.

• Theoktistos the Martyr

  Martyr, Θεόκτιστος

  Holy Martyr Theoktistos, commemorated with Saint Dionysios the Areopagite.

• John the Chozebite

  Hierarch, Ιωάννης ο Χοζεβίτης

  Saint John the Chozebite, ascetic of the Wadi Qelt and Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine.

• Dionysios the Recluse of the Caves

  Venerable, Διονύσιος ο Έγκλειστος

  Venerable Dionysios the Recluse of the Kiev Caves, hieromonk and guardian of the relics of the Far Caves.

Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.