I am often represented carrying my head in my hands because legend said that after my execution my corpse rose again and carried the head for some distance. When I was younger I was distinguished for my virtuous life, knowledge of sacred things, and firm faith.
I was sent by Pope Fabian, along with some other missionary bishops to Gaul (Western Europe) on a difficult mission. The Church of Gaul had suffered terribly under the persecution of the Emperor Decius and we, the new messengers of Faith, were to restore it to its former flourishing condition. My companions, the priest Rusticus and the deacon Eleutherius, and I arrived in the neighbourhood of the present city of Paris and settled on the island in the Seine.
On the island in the Seine I built a church. My fearless and indefatigable preaching of the Gospel led to countless conversions. This aroused the envy, anger and hatred of the heathen priests. They incited the populace against me and my companions and importuned the governor Fescenninus Sisinnius to put a stop by force to the new teaching. We were seized, but persevered in their faith so we were beheaded (about 275) after many tortures. We were scourged, imprisoned, racked, thrown to wild beasts, burnt at the stake, and finally beheaded. Our bodies received an honourable burial through the efforts of a pious matron named Catulla and a small shrine was erected over our graves. This was later on replaced by a beautiful basilica (egregium templum) which Venantius celebrated in verse (Carm. I, ii).
My feast day is October 9.
