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peterpan
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St John Damascene in “On Holy Images” quotes blessed Denis the Carthusian. Is there more than one Denis?
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Tis_Bearself
Patron
This is Denis the Carthusian. As noted in the article, he was a 15th century mystic who was never made a saint, despite being called “Blessed Denis”.
He is not the same as St. Denis who was a 3rd century martyr and is a patron saint of Paris.
There is also another St. Denis from the 6th century who was a monk in Scythia. He invented the A.D. calendar system and is venerated by the Eastern Orthodox Church. I don’t know if he’s specifically venerated by the Eastern Catholic Church, but since he was pre-schism, it’s okay for Catholics to venerate him.
And a Denis (the Areopagite) in the Bible.
Sometimes the name “Denis” is written as “Dionysus”.
He is not the same as St. Denis who was a 3rd century martyr and is a patron saint of Paris.
There is also another St. Denis from the 6th century who was a monk in Scythia. He invented the A.D. calendar system and is venerated by the Eastern Orthodox Church. I don’t know if he’s specifically venerated by the Eastern Catholic Church, but since he was pre-schism, it’s okay for Catholics to venerate him.
And a Denis (the Areopagite) in the Bible.
Sometimes the name “Denis” is written as “Dionysus”.
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peterpan
Guest
Thank you very much. I guess what threw me was “the Carthusian” , which seems to be a specific identifier.
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peterpan
Guest
I looked at two editions. One added a note the Denis (the Carthusian) is Pseudo Dionysous. That makes sense - only there were no Carthusians that we know of when St John Damascene wrote.
Tis_Bearself
Patron
Pseudo-Dionysus the Areopagite lived in the 5th or 6th centuries. He was a mystic and theologian who wrote about things like the choirs of angels. He’s obviously not the same Dionysus the Areopagite who is mentioned in the Bible (in Acts of the Apostles).
Denis the Carthusian lived many centuries later. Sounds like somebody got their Denises or Dionysuses mixed up.
I note that the Carthusians weren’t even formed as an order until 1084, 300 years after St. John Damascene died.
Wikipedia is a surprisingly good reference for this sort of thing.
Denis the Carthusian lived many centuries later. Sounds like somebody got their Denises or Dionysuses mixed up.
I note that the Carthusians weren’t even formed as an order until 1084, 300 years after St. John Damascene died.
Wikipedia is a surprisingly good reference for this sort of thing.
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peterpan
Guest
Definitely something went wrong. The two translations I checked however did have their identifying comments (which did not agree) in parentheses. So I’m happy to call him the blessed Denis, as did St John Damscene! Tks.
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