St Dionysius, also called St Denis, was the first Bishop of Paris. He was sent to Lutetia in the 3rd century, accompanied by the priest Rusticus and the deacon Eleutherius. After carrying out his mission there for several years, he was beheaded with his companions (which is why he is represented bearing his head in his hands) at Catulliacum, now St Denis, where they erected over his tomb a basilica; here the kings of France are buried. St. Denis is one of the 14 "Auxiliary Saints"
The Collect and Gospel show forth the Christian heroism of these three Martyrs who fearlessly confessed the name of Christ before men and remained firm in the midst of their sufferings. In the ninth century St Dionysius was erroneously identified with Dionysius the Areopagite, whence the Epistle in the Mass relating the conversion of the latter saint which happened when St Paul passed through Greece on his second journey.
The Collect and Gospel show forth the Christian heroism of these three Martyrs who fearlessly confessed the name of Christ before men and remained firm in the midst of their sufferings. In the ninth century St Dionysius was erroneously identified with Dionysius the Areopagite, whence the Epistle in the Mass relating the conversion of the latter saint which happened when St Paul passed through Greece on his second journey.
