Hierotheus of Athens

Description

Hierotheos the Thesmothete (Greek: θεσμοθέτης Ἱερόθεος) is the reputed first head and bishop of the Christian Athenians. The title thesmothete means ruler, or junior archon, of Athens (literally “rule-setter”).Little is known of Hierotheos (Ἰερόθεος “sanctified by God”); church tradition holds that he was one of the learned men in the city of Athens. He was instructed in Christianity by the Apostle Paul, who baptized and ordained him around the year 53. Hierotheos frequently visited and instructed St. Dionysius the Areopagite. There is disagreement as to whether Hierotheos was actually a priest or bishop; some traditions describe Dionysius as the first bishop of Athens.

The Hieromartyr Hierotheus of Athens, also Hierotheus the Thesmothete (Greek: θεσμοθέτης Ἱερόθεος), a convert of the Apostle Paul, was the first Bishop of Athens. His feast day is October 4.

Hierotheus was a member of the Athenian Areopagos, from which he may have received the title “Thesmothete” which means ruler, or junior archon, of Athens (literally “rule-setter”).

Little is known of the life of Hierotheos other than the tradition of the Church. He was one of the learned men of Athens who came to follow the Gospel of Christ as preached by the Apostle Paul, joining Dionysius the Areopagite who, like Hierotheus, was a member of the Areopagite court. Around the year 53, Paul baptized Hierotheos. Tradition is not clear on whether Hierotheos was actually a priest or bishop. While tradition places Hierotheos as the first bishop of Athens, other traditions note Dionysius as the first bishop of Athens

Also, according to tradition, Bp. Hierotheus was present, with St. Dionysius, during the dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos.

St. Hierotheus died a martyr’s death later in the first century.