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| Saint Denis | |
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| Bishop, martyr | |
| Born | third century |
| Died | ca. AD 250 |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholicism |
| Feast | October 9 |
| Attributes | Severed head |
| Patron saint of | France |
Saint Denis, (Dionysius or Dennis) is a Christian martyr saint and bishop of Paris, is the patron saint of France. He died around 250.
Gregory of Tours simply states of Denis that he was bishop of the Parisii and was martyred by being beheaded by a sword [1]. The earliest document giving an account of his life and martyrdom (Passio SS. Dionysii Rustici et Eleutherii), dating from ca 600 A.D. 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, in French literally the mountain of the martyr. According to the Golden Legend, after his head was chopped off, St 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.
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.
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