00:00In the heart of the 3rd century, when the Roman Empire reigned over Gaul, one man distinguished himself by his
00:06courage and faith, Denis.
00:09Sent by the Pope of Rome, he landed with his companions, rustic and eloquent, to bring the Christian word to
00:17pagans of Lutetia, present-day Paris.
00:21Imagine him, walking the streets, defying Roman gods, converting hearts with unwavering fervor.
00:29He was the very first bishop of Paris, a pioneer who planted the seeds of the Christian faith in this
00:36land that would become France.
00:39But times were hard for Christians. Emperor Dessus, or Valerian, launched terrible persecutions.
00:47Denis and his companions were arrested, tortured to renounce their faith, but they stood firm.
00:53Their heroic resistance, that is their fate.
00:57They were taken to a hill north of Paris, a place which, thanks to their sacrifice, would be renamed
01:04Mont-des-Martyres, Montmartre.
01:07It was there that Denis, rustics and eleutheres were beheaded.
01:11And this is where the legend takes over, making Saint-Denis unforgettable.
01:17After his decapitation, Denis's body reportedly rose up, picked up his own head, and walked on several
01:25kilometers, guided by angels, to a place he himself had chosen for his burial.
01:32A stunning miracle, an ultimate act of faith that defies understanding and inspires generations.
01:40This place became the site of the future Basilica of Saint-Denis.
01:44Today, Saint-Denis is much more than a legend.
01:48He is the patron saint of Paris and France, a symbol of resilience and unwavering faith in the face of adversity.
01:55to adversity.
01:56Its basilica, the necropolis of the kings of France, testifies to its crucial importance in French history.
02:04He embodies the spirit of those who dared to defy the powerful for their convictions.
02:08reminding us that faith can move mountains and make saints walk without their heads.
02:15His life, his martyrdom and this incredible legend continue to inspire millions of people, centuries after his passing.
02:23Subtitling by Radio-Canada
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