Denis

Dionysius of Paris (French: Denis or Denys ) was a missionary in Gaul, first bishop of Paris and Christian martyr. He is a national saint of France and patron of various towns and cities (including Paris, Krefeld ).

Life

Dionysius was in the 3rd century - probably around the year 250 by Pope Fabian - sent with six other bishops from Rome to Gaul to preach the words of Christianity. According to Gregory of Tours Dionysius was at 250 Bishop of Paris. The Roman governor ordered the arrest and beheading of Dionysius and his companions Rusticus and Eleutherius. According to legend, Dionysius had taken on the judgment seat at Montmartre his severed head, have it washed in a nearby spring and had gone at six kilometers to the north with his head in his hands, to the point where he wanted to be buried.

At this place the Frankish king Dagobert I built the 626 for the Holy named abbey with the basilica of Saint -Denis, which served the French kings as grave lay.

Worship

Dionysius is a saint of the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church. The cult of Dionysius is common in France, Spain and Germany.

The oldest news about his life comes from Gregory of Tours. Popular was the Dionysius Vita Hilduins of Saint- Denis, who took also applying to the entire Middle Ages identification with Dionysius the Areopagite, and pseudo - Dionysius the Areopagite.

His feast day is October 9 (there are to this day the farmer 's usually raining at St. Dionysius, it rains all winter certainly. ). A second Memorial Day is celebrated on December 4, the day of the Ceremony for the presentation bones to Paris.

Even before the 15th century Dionysius was invoked against headaches, but also against rabies, remorse and mental suffering. Since 1450 he is one of the 14 Holy Helpers. He is patron of the French kings and patron saint of Paris.

According to Dionysius, the city of Saint- Denis and the department of Seine -Saint -Denis are named. Even Saint- Denis on Reunion Island is named after him. The Clos Saint- Denis is a Grand Cru vineyard in the village of Morey -Saint- Denis in Burgundy.