St. Dionysius of Mount Athos icon

Orthodox icon of Saint Dionysius, Dionysius, from the Monastery of Prodromou of Mt Athos.

Commemorated November 1.

Orthodox icon of Saint Dionysius of Mt. Athos. The monastic martyrs James of Kastoria and his disciples, the Deacon James and Dionysius of Prodromou Monastery on Mt. Athos. St James was tonsured on Mt. Athos at the Docheiariou monastery. Transferring to the neglected Georgian skete of St John the Baptist, James restored it under the supervision of the Elder Ignatius. Fulfilling various obediences in the monastery, St James scaled the heights of purity. He was granted heavenly revelations, just like the Apostle Paul, so the saint also saw the mansions of Paradise and the depths of Hades.

By a gift from above, St James perceived the heartu2019s mysteries and the secret thoughts of those who came to him. The saint also was found worthy of the gift of wonderworking. Visiting with disciples in Aetolia, he worked many miracles, healing the sick and instructing all. The Turkish authorities, fabricated false charges against the monk that he allegedly intended to foment rebellion. In this manner, they attempted to force the saint into renouncing Orthodoxy. But St James and both his disciples, Deacon James and St Dionysius, endured the fiercest of torments over a period of many days. They suffered martyrdom on November 1, 1520.