But the truth is, that picture speaks to me on a very deep level. There’s this fundamentally holy quality to it.
Holy. That’s one of those words that’s really changed meaning over time.
The Greeks understood that you’re supposed to keep as far away from holy things as possible. Holy things are dangerous things. They consume you, as poor Semele discovered too late.
And isn’t it interesting that Ariadne means the very holy one.
You know what else is interesting?
Saint Denys.
According to Christian tradition, Saint Denis (also called Dionysius, Dennis, or Denys) is a Christian martyr and saint. In the third century, he wasBishop of Paris. He was martyred in connection with the Decian persecution of Christians, shortly after 250 CE. After his head was chopped off, Denis is said to have picked it up and walked ten kilometres (six miles), preaching a sermon the entire way, making him one of many cephalophores inhagiology. He is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church as patron of Paris, France, and as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. The medieval and modern French name “Denis” derives from the ancient name Dionysius.
I find it rather appropriate that Jim Morrison was buried in his land.
Circles, etc.
Do you know off the top of your head what St. Denys’ dies sancti is? I wonder if it is in the general season of any major Dionysian festival…it might not be, but one never knows, eh?
As it turns out, most of the saints named after Dionysos have their feast days around the time of his festivals. From an old article of mine:
Ss Sergius and Bacchus – feast day: October 7. Syrian soldiers and lovers who were tortured for refusing to participate in State sacrifices. Paraded through the streets dressed as women, they persevered because, as St. Bacchus reassured his partner, “the delights of heaven were greater than any suffering, and that part of their reward would be to be re-united in heaven as lovers.” St. Denys – feast day: October 9. Patron of France. After having his head cut off, he carried it to France. Vines grew up on the spot where he finally came to rest. St Dionysia – feast day: December 6. A beautiful woman scourged to death in the forum by Arian Christians in 484. St Dionysia – feast day: May 15. A 16 girl who rebuked a Christian when he recanted, took his place. St Dionysius – feast day: July 27. One of the ‘seven sleepers’ who were walled up, and then awoke about two hundred years later. St Dionysius – feast day: February 8. Armenian monk and martyr. St Dionysius – feast day: September 20. Martyred in Asia Minor. No account remains. St Dionysius – feast day: February 14. Martyred in Alexandria, when his head was cut off. St Dionysius the Aeropagite – feast day: October 9. Converted by St Paul. First Bishop of Athens. St Dionysius – feast day: May 8. Bishop of Vienne, in Dauphine, France, successor of St. Justus. St Dionysius – feast day: October 3. Martyred in Alexandria in 250 St Dionysius – feast day: May 12 Martyred in Rome in 304 Blessed Dionysius – feast day: November 29. A Carmelite martyr called Dionysius of the Nativity. Slain in Sumatra, Indonesia in 1638 Blessed Dionysius Fugishima – feast day: March 5. A Japanese-born Jesuit novice, slain at Shimabara in 1622. St Dionysius of Alexandria – feast day: November 17. Called ‘the Great’ because he comforted plague victims, and the “Teacher of the Catholic Church” because of his learning. St. Dionysius of Augsburg – feast day: February 26. Martyred in Germany in 303. St. Dionysius of Corinth – feast day: April 8. Famed for his letters. St. Dionysius of Milan – feast day: May 25. Banished for defending St. Athanasius; died in exile. St. Pope Dionysius – feast day: December 26. Rebult the Church after the persecutions of Emperor Valerian. St. Dionysius Sebuggwao – feast day: June 3. Martyred in Uganda, Africa by King Mwanga in 1885. St. Eleutherius – feast day: August 4. Martyr of Tarsus, Turkey. St. Eleutherius – feast day: August 16 Bishop of Auxerre, France. He was a patron of the monastic movement and known for his care of the poor. St. Eleutherius feast day: October 2. A soldier in the army of coEmperor Diocletian in Nicomedia. He was accused of setting fire to the emperor’s palace and was burned to death after being tortured with companions.
This isn’t going to make any sense…but I don’t care. I wanted to name my first son, Denis, not even knowing this story….but my husband didn’t like the name. (I was so drawn to that name, dammit.)
Years laters — try 17 years later — my husband had a spiritual awakening at a Dionysus ritual.
And he went home and Googled on who Dionysus was, in terms of the divine — and the story similar to the one that you tell here, of St. Denis — was the first thing that came up, he says.
Now he thinks that he really should’ve listened to me and called our son, Denis.
Just…wow.
That is an AMAZING story. Thank you so much for sharing!