DIONIGI, SANTO

DIONYSIUS, Saint. — He was bishop of Milan in 355 when the emperor Constantius assembled a council there at the suggestion of Pope Liberius. It seems that at first D. had subscribed to the condemnation of St. Athanasius, but later he recanted, following the intervention of Eusebius of Vercelli. When a tumult broke out among the people, who were attending the council to protest against the violence of the Arian bishops, D. worked to restore calm among the faithful who remained in the church while the council members moved to the imperial palace. After the council, D., together with Lucifer of Cagliari and Eusebius of Vercelli, was condemned to exile. Deported to Armenia, he died before 362. In 376 St. Ambrose requested and obtained his body, which was transferred to Milan and enshrined in the church that took its name from him. He is commemorated on 25 May in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum, though it is uncertain whether this date refers to the day of his death or that of his translation.