In 250 St. Denis, first bishop of Paris, was beheaded on a hill together with two friends called Rusticus and Eleutherius. ("I rather give up my head than my Christian belief.") Since this time this hill is called "hill of the martyrs": Montmartre. According to the legend he is said to have walked to his tomb carrying his head in his hands. So he is mostly shown (not to be mixed up with St. Nicasius of Reims!). An immense pilgrimage to his tomb started immediately after his death. The actual church is the first Gothic church in the world. For more than 1000 years it was the burial-place of Royal families whose members were buried in artistic monuments. A few years ago St. Denis Church is risen to the status of a Cathedral. Corvey Convent is connected with it. In Westphalia he was appreciated as a great missionary.
| Name: | in Greek Dionys meaning a person dedicated to the Greek god Dionysos |
| Day of Commemoration: | October 9th |
| Native Place: | Gallia? |
| Year of Death: | about 250 as a Bishop of Paris (beheaded) |
| Distinguishing Feature: | Bishop with a head in his hands (as St. Nicais in Reims Cathedral) |
| Particular Patronage: | Helper against headache, trouble of conscience and faith, in painful fights when you risk your head, patron of France and Paris, former patron of the Carolingian dynasty. |
Prayer:St. Denis, we, too, are in danger of life during the daily strain of life. Help us not to give up because of our weakness. Show us the direct way to sincere penitence so that we can feel God's love and mercy.
