Sts. Denis, Rusticus, and Eleutherius

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Feastday: October 9
Patron of France; Paris; against frenzy, strife, headaches, hydrophobia, possessed people, rabies

The first mention we have of these three martyrs who died around 258 A.D. comes in the sixth century in the writings of Saint Gregory of Tours.

Denis (or Dionysius as he is also called) is the most famous of the three. Born and raised in Italy, he was sent as a missionary to Gaul (now France) circa 250 A.D. by Pope St. Clement along with five other bishops.

Denis made his base of missionary activity an island in the Seine near the city of Lutetia Parisorium -- what would become Paris. For this reason he is know as the first bishop of Paris and the Apostle of France. There he was captured by the Parisians along with Rusticus and Eleutherius. Later writers have referred to these as Denis' priest and deacon, or his deacon and subdeacon, but we have no further information on them.

After a long imprisonment and several aborted executions, the three martyrs were beheaded with a sword and their bodies were thrown into the river. Denis' body was retrieved from the Seine by his converts and buried. The chapel that was built over his tomb grew into the abbey of Saint-Denis.

In the ninth century, Denis' story and identity became fused and confused with Dionysius the Areopagite and Pseudo-Dionysius, but later scholarship has re-established his identity as a separate saint.

Denis is pictured as he was martyred -- headless (with a vine growing over the neck) and carrying his own mitred head.

Recognized since the time of St. Gregory as a special saint of Paris, Denis is the patron saint of France.

from Wikipedia

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1 - 8 of 8 Comments

Joseph Mathew
8 months ago
Saints Denis, Rusticus & Eleutherius, please continue to pray for me, to keep my eyes fixed upon the Lord, and not turn towards the friendships and temptations of this world which are fleeting and transitory in nature.
Mona
8 months ago
Please pray for Jacob that he finds the right path, for his parents that they find the strenght and wisdom to guide him and for all cancer patients that they deal with their religion with grace and dignity. Thank you.
christopher
8 months ago
Great saint denis pray for me and my family
Amen
christie
8 months ago
Dear St. Denis, brave and blessed soldier of Christ on account of the many conversions that you made. Nice to know that your seat was on the Seine River, your martyrdom on Montmarte. You are the first bishop of Paris. Bless all who read about you today, and reflect on Christ.Amen
Denis Benson
1 year ago
I say with deep humility that I am greatly honoured to share this wonderful saints name.My prayer to Saint Denis through the power of the Holy Spirit is for all peoples to respond to God's peace and love. That the harvest for priests and religious will be plentiful. That Our Blessed Mother Mary's Rosary will flourish throughout the world. Amen.
tumwebingye mardonius
1 year ago
Dear St Denis you gave your life to the Lord by doing missionary work and being beheaded for your faith. intercede for me and my family so that whatever we do glorifies the Lord not dismaying Him.
Am also happy to get access to the catholic reading materials on the internet. All along I did not know that the internet has important info on the catholic church asi have found. Thanks a lot for all this; am sure those who waste time on non issues will benefit from this catholic materials/online
Joseph Mathew
1 year ago
Dear saints Denis, Rusticus and Eleutherius, please pray for me to grow strong in faith and weather the storms of life by clinging firmly to the right hand of Lord Jesus! Thank You.
richard lewis
2 years ago
thank you for this interesting article. i have often heard of the town of st. denis near paris, and the gothic church build there, which was important in the history of architecture, but i had no idea who saint denis was as a person and saint, until today.

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