Denis

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St. Denis<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;background-color:gold;">martyr, first Bishop of Paris, missionary, one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers</td></tr>
Born	third century in Italy
Died	ca. AD 250, AD 270, or AD 258 in Montmartre, Paris, France<tr><td>Venerated in</td> <td>Roman Catholicism</td></tr><tr><td>Major shrine</td> <td>Abbey of Saint-Denis</td></tr>
Feast	October 9<tr><td>Attributes</td> <td>Severed head in his hands, bishop's mitre</td></tr><tr><td>Patronage</td> <td>France, Paris, against frenzy, against strife, headaches, hydrophobia, possessed people, rabies</td></tr>
Image:Gloriole.svg Saints Portal

For other uses, see Saint Dennis.

Saint Denis, (Dionysius, Dennis, or Denys) is a Christian martyr saint and bishop of Paris, is the patron saint of France. He died around AD 250.

1 Life
2 Companions
3 Notes
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Life

Gregory of Tours simply states of Denis that he was bishop of the Parisii and was martyred by being beheaded by a sword.<ref>"Beatus Dionysius Parisiorum episcopus diversis pro Christi nomine adfectus poenis praesentem vitam gladio immente finivit." History of the Franks I, 30.</ref> The earliest document giving an account of his life and martyrdom (Passio SS. Dionysii Rustici et Eleutherii), dating from circa AD 600 and wrongly attributed to the poet Venantius Fortunatus, is already embroidered with legend. Nevertheless, it appears from the passio that Denis was sent from Italy to convert Gaul in the third century, forging a link with the "apostles to the Gauls" reputed to have been sent out under the direction of Pope Fabian, after the persecutions under Emperor Decius had all but dissolved the small Christian community at Lutetia (Paris). Denis with his inseparable companions, the priest Rusticus and the deacon Eleutherius, who were martyred with him, settled on the Ile de la Cité in the Seine. Roman Paris lay on the higher ground of the Left Bank, away from the river.

Denis was executed by beheading on the highest hill near Paris (now Montmartre), which being the highest hill in the area was also likely to have been a druidic holy place. The martyrdom of Denis and his companions gave the name of Montmartre (Old French: "mountain of the martyr"). According to the Golden Legend, after his head was chopped off, Denis picked it up and walked several miles, all the time preaching a sermon. The site where he stopped preaching and actually died was made into a small shrine that developed into the Saint Denis Basilica, which became the burial place for the kings of France.

Image:Musee du Moyen Age A01.JPG

This walk has led to St Denis being depicted in art as headless, holding his mitred head in his hands. Handling the halo in this circumstance offers a unique challenge for the artist. Some put the halo where the head used to be; others have St Denis carrying the halo along with the head.

His feast day is October 9.

St. Denis' Companions<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"> Image:Henri Bellechose 001.jpg </td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;background-color:gold;">martyrs</td></tr>
Born	Unknown in France
Died	ca. AD 250, AD 270, or AD 258 in Montmartre, Paris, France<tr><td>Venerated in</td> <td>Roman Catholicism</td></tr><tr><td>Major shrine</td> <td>Abbey of Saint-Denis</td></tr>
Feast	October 9<tr><td>Attributes</td> <td>being beheaded along with St. Denis</td></tr><tr><td>Patronage</td> <td>what we need to make us better followers of God</td></tr>
Image:Gloriole.svg Saints Portal

[edit] Companions

October 9 has been traditionally celebrated as the feast of St. Denis and his Companions. Tradition has it that they were two other men that were martyred alongside St. Denis. It is believed that his companions were two members of his clergy, a priest and a deacon. They were also buried in the same place as St. Denis.