St Denis

St Denis was a third-century missionary and the first Bishop of Paris. In the year 258, during the persecution of the Christians, he was beheaded on a hilltop outside Paris. The place was later called Mons Martyrium – today known as Montmartre. According to legend, after his execution St Denis rose up, took his head in his hands, and walked a few kilometres to a village to the northwest of Paris, where he laid down to be buried.

The first church was erected over his grave circa 500 CE, and a monastery was founded close by. It was here that the kings of France were buried from the 6th century until the French Revolution in 1789. The monastery of St Denis became one of the largest and wealthiest in France.

The statue

St Denis is depicted with his head in his hands, dressed as an archbishop from the 13th century, in full liturgical regalia, including the pallium – a narrow strip of wool that was the archbishop’s symbol of office – draped over his shoulders.