St. Dionysius Exiguus

the Orthodox faith, humility of heart and love for God and neighbor

Three great virtues adorned the life of the pious St. Dionysius Exiguus: the orthodox faith preserved with holiness throughout life, humility of heart, love for God and people, and about these qualities we find the testimony of his friend Cassiodorus in a characterization of beauty hard to match, marked mainly by respect, appreciation and admiration, but also a message for the descendants:

“Nowadays, the monk Dionysius was also a Scythian, but according to his completely Roman character, very learned in both languages, proving by his deeds the spiritual balance he had learned in the Books of the Lord. He searched the Scriptures with such zeal and understood them so that wherever he was asked, he had the answer ready, giving it without delay. He taught dialectics with me and spent many years of his life in the glorious education of God. […] In him was much simplicity with wisdom, humility with learning, moderation with the talent to speak, so that he considered himself as nothing or one of the least servants, although he was undoubtedly worthy of the company of kings. May he intercede for us, he who used to pray with us, that we may now be helped by his merits, with whose prayer we have been strengthened here on earth. […] He used Latin and Greek with such great skill that any Greek books he took in his hands, translated them without stumbling into Latin, and likewise read the Latin ones into Greek, so that you thought it was written as his mouth pronounced it with unstoppable quickness. […] He was of a rare chastity, […] shed tears moved by pain when he heard indecent words during merriment; […] He was fasting without reproaching those who eat. […] Intact, totally bound, steadfastly to the traditional ordinances; and what some may find reading to different (writers), was known to shine in the science of him…”

(Alexandru Moțoc / Ziarul Lumina)