History of Paris

Saint Denis
Last Communion and Martyrdom of Saint Denis, which shows the martyrdom of both Denis and his companions ©Henri Bellechose
250 Jan 1

Saint Denis

Montmartre, Paris, France

Christianity was introduced into Paris in the middle of the 3rd century CE. According to tradition, it was brought by Saint Denis, the Bishop of the Parisii, who, along with two others, Rustique and Éleuthère, was arrested by the Roman prefect Fescennius. When he refused to renounce his faith, he was beheaded on Mount Mercury. According to the tradition, Saint Denis picked up his head and carried it to a secret Christian cemetery of Vicus Cattulliacus about six miles away. A different version of the legend says that a devout Christian woman, Catula, came at night to the site of the execution and took his remains to the cemetery. The hill where he was executed, Mount Mercury, later became the Mountain of Martyrs ("Mons Martyrum"), eventually Montmartre. A church was built on the site of the grave of St. Denis, which later became the Basilica of Saint-Denis. By the 4th century, the city had its first recognized bishop, Victorinus (346 CE). By 392 CE, it had a cathedral.

Last Updated: Tue Jan 09 2024

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