SAINT DENIS AND COMPANIOS
Saint Denis By Edward Matulanya Overview and Feast Day of Saint Denis Saint Denis (Latin Dionysius), along with his companions Rusticus (priest) and Eleutherius (deacon), is venerated as a martyr and early bishop. Their feast is observed on October 9 in the Western (Latin) Catholic liturgical calendar (Franciscan Media, n.d.). Early Life and Mission of Saint Denis Precise historical details about Denis’s early life are lacking. Some traditions place his origin in Italy or Rome (St. Denis Parish, n.d.). According to Gregory of Tours (6th century), Denis was among seven bishops dispatched to Gaul during the reign of Emperor Decius (c. 249–251) as part of early missionary efforts (New Liturgical Movement, 2024). He is traditionally held to be the first bishop of Paris (then Lutetia) (Encyclopaedia Britannica, n.d.). In Gaul, Denis, Rusticus, and Eleutherius settled on the Île de la Cité in the Seine, where they preached, built a church, and baptized converts (St. Denis Pa...