Dionysius II of Antioch


Dionysius II was the Patriarch of Antioch and head of the Syriac Orthodox Church from 896/897 until his death in 908/909.

Biography

Dionysius studied and became a monk at the monastery of Beth Batin, near Harran in Upper Mesopotamia. He was chosen to succeed Theodosius Romanus as patriarch of Antioch in an election by lot, and was consecrated on 23 April 896/897 by archbishop Jacob of Emesa at the village of Ashit, near Sarug, according to the histories of Michael the Syrian and Bar Hebraeus.
Soon after his ascension to the patriarchal office, Dionysius convened a synod at the monastery of Saint Shila, at which he issued twenty-five canons and was attended by thirty-five bishops. He served as patriarch of Antioch until his death on 18 April 908/909 at the monastery of Beth Batin, where he was buried. As patriarch, Dionysius ordained fifty bishops, as per Michael the Syrian's Chronicle, whereas Bar Hebraeus in his Ecclesiastical History credits Dionysius with the ordination of fifty-one bishops.

Episcopal succession

As patriarch, Dionysius ordained the following bishops: