What are the views of St. Dionysius of Alexandria on participating in military service?

The answer

It seems that St. Dionysius of Alexandria (third century) rejected service in the Roman army, or at least to fighting others, saying, “Love is altogether and for ever on the alert, and casts about to do some good even to one who is unwilling to receive it.”⁹⁵⁹

Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty

Notes

⁹⁵⁹ St. Dionysius of Alexandria, Epistles 14 (ANF 6:110).

Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty, Catechism of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Volumes 1 and 2, Books 1–7. First English Edition, 2023. Published by St. George Coptic Orthodox Church, Sporting, Alexandria, and Queen St. Mary & Prince Tadros Coptic Orthodox Church, South Brunswick, NJ. Copyright © 2023. Translation and Editing: Youth of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, Arabian Gulf, and Egypt.