Dionysius II of Antioch

Dionysius II (Syriac: ܕܝܘܢܢܘܣܝܘܣ ܬܪܝܢܐ, Arabic: ديونيسيوس الثاني)^[1] was the Patriarch of Antioch and head of the Syriac Orthodox Church from 896/897 until his death in 908/909.

Dionysius studied and became a monk at the monastery of Beth Batin, near Harran in Upper Mesopotamia.^[2] He was chosen to succeed Theodosius Romanus as patriarch of Antioch in an election by lot, and was consecrated on 23 April 896/897 (AG 1208)^{[nb 1]} by archbishop Jacob of Emesa at the village of Ashit, near Sarug, according to the histories of Michael the Syrian and Bar Hebraeus.^[5][6]

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.^[2] He served as patriarch of Antioch until his death on 18 April 908/909 (AG 1220) at the monastery of Beth Batin, where he was buried.^[5][7] As patriarch, Dionysius ordained fifty bishops, as per Michael the Syrian's Chronicle,^[6] whereas Bar Hebraeus in his Ecclesiastical History credits Dionysius with the ordination of fifty-one bishops.^[5]

As patriarch, Dionysius ordained the following bishops:^[6]

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