When Xystus had presided over the church of the Romans for eleven years, he was succeeded by Dionysius, the namesake of him of Alexandria. At this time also, when Demetrian had departed this life at Antioch, Paul of Samosata received the episcopate.
Since this man held low and grovelling views concerning Christ, contrary to the Church's teaching—namely, that He had become in His nature a common man—Dionysius of Alexandria, being invited to attend the synod, pleaded both old age and bodily weakness as his excuse, and postponed his coming, setting forth by letter the opinion he held on the question in dispute. But the rest of the pastors of the churches, from various quarters, came together as against a ravager of the flock of Christ, all hastening to Antioch.