Our father among the [[saint]]s '''Dionysios Dionysius I''' was the Patriarch of Constantinople during the late fifteenth century after [[Fall of Constantinople|Constantinople had fallen]] to the Ottoman Turks. He was patriarch during two periods: from 1467 to 1471 and then from 1488 to 1490. He is commemorated on [[November 23]].

The future [[patriarch]] was born in Dimitsana in the Peloponnese. The date of his birth is not known. Having chosen a [[monasticism|monastic]] life, he was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] at the Magganon Monastery in Constantinople, under the spiritual guidance of [[Mark of Ephesus|Mark the Eugenikos]], the future [[metropolitan]] of Ephesus and saint. Dionysios Dionysius was [[ordination|ordained]] by St. Mark into the [[diaconate]] and the [[priest]]hood.

After the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks, Dionysios was held captive by the Turks in Adrianoupolis, but was liberated through the efforts of a noble by the name of Kyritzis. After obtaining his freedom, Dionysios Dionysius was consecrated to the episcopate and assigned as Metropolitan of Philippoupolis by Patriarch [[Gennadius Scholarius|Gennadius II Scholarius]].

In January 1467, with the influence of the step-mother of Sultan Mechmet II, a Christian named Madam MaroMaros, he became Patriarch of Constantinople, a position he held until 1471.

Dionysios Dionysius came under accusation that he had renounced his Christian faith and accepted circumcision during his captivity in Adrianoupolis. That this was false he proved before a panel of [[bishop|hierarchs]] and [[laity|laymen]] "by showing his flesh to all the people". Having proven his point, Dionysios Dionysius left the patriarchate in 1471 and entered the Monastery of Eikosifinissa in Drama.

In 1488, Dionysios Dionysius was called back to become patriarch again, the position he continued to hold until he retired again in 1490. He then returned to the Monastery of Eikosifinissa where he remained until his repose in 1492.

Dionysios Dionysius has been recognized as a saint and is remembered on November 23.

after=Maximos Maximus IV}}