Denis

Denis, or Dionysius, St., the patron saint of France, is alleged by Gregory of Tours to have come from Rome to Gaul in the third century, and to have settled at Paris, of which city he was the first bishop. He suffered martyrdom by decapitation during Valerian's persecution in 272 or perhaps some years later. One legend represents him to have carried his head in his hands two miles after it had been severed from his body. Pious converts recovered his remains from the Seine, buried them, and erected a chapel over them. In the seventh century Dagobert converted this structure into the famous Abbey. Another story identifies him with Dionysius the Areopagite converted by St. Paul. His day is kept on October 9th.