Dionysius of Corinth

Holy Martyr Dionysius of Corinth was one of the disciples of the Holy Martyr Quadratus and suffered in Corinth in the time of Emperor Decius (249-251). He is commemorated on 23 March, in the company of Quadratus and his companions.

Quadratus was born in the mountains to Rufina, a Christian who fled from Corinth in the time of persecution and died soon after the birth; the child was fed by God's providence with a sweet dew from a cloud. He grew up in the desert, learned the true faith from some Christians, learned letters and then medicine and spent most of his life in the mountains, at prayer. To him came his friends and followers, among them Cyprian, Dionysius, Anectus, Paul, Crescens and others. By order of Decius the commander Jason arrived at Corinth, who seized Quadratus and his friends and threw them into prison. For their faith they were tormented, thrown to the beasts, who did not touch them, dragged bound to chariots through the city and, in the end, beheaded with the sword; at the place of execution they asked a little time for prayer and went, one after another, to the executioner.