First bishop of Paris and one of the patron
saints of France, who was martyred by the
Romans. Feast day 9 Oct. He is often confused
with Dionysius the Areopagite, as well as
with the original martyr of the 1st century
AD. According to legend, he was sent as a
missionary to Gaul in 250, and was beheaded
several years later at what is today
Montmartre in Paris, during the reign of
Emperor Valerian. He is often represented as
carrying his head in his hands.