Visitors who enter are greeted by two giant shells that are holy water stoups, donated by Francis I, a prodigious patron of the arts who had this church decorated during the time of the French Renaissance. This is only an introduction to the uniqueness of a church so full of architectural delights.
The Rood Screen
The interior is most unique, with great harmony among its blend of style. The photos here illustrate the fascinating rood screen (the only remaining example in Paris) with its stunning spiral staircases and upper gangway between the pillars. The rood screen was built between 1521-1545, attributed to Antoine Beaucorps.
The screen was intended to separate the nave from the choir. It is slightly asymmetrical. Its main arch is 9 m long, like an arched bridge. The tracery of the the stone carvings and the spiral staircases with their steps that are not perpendicular are delicately supported by lender columns. In past centuries this area served as the pulpit to preach sermons.
The gangway on each side and the youthful figures that top them (completed in 1605), are probably the work of Pierre Biard, one of the sculptors of the Galerie du Bord de l'Eau in the Louvere.
Rood screens later disappeared under a decree of the Council of Trent (1545-1563), when they were abolished and began to disappear, even though they were common in the Middle-Ages. The Tridentine goal was to make the ceremonies at the altar more visible to the congregation beyond the choir.
Interior Highlights
The nave thus has two levels of arcades -- successive arches at the ceiling and below, holding a passageway with balustrades, separating the nave from the outer aisles. This elevated area was used to drape banners on special feast days. The large windows above fill the interior with light.
As is the custom in many medieval churches in France, there is the unusual feature of the axis of the church being slightly off, slanted to the side. This slight curve of the axis is a sobering thought for meditation, representing the view of Christ from the Cross (with his head slanted, looking down the nave of the church from the main high altar).
There is also an unusual pulpit, built in 1650 by Germain Pilon, a cabinet maker. It shows a powerful Samson holding up the bowl of the pulpit, surrounded by virtues. The sculptures were designed by Laurent de la Hire, and made by Claude Lestocart.
The choir loft must also be mentioned, with its organ and fine case dating from 1630, by Jean Buron. It is dominated by the resurrected Christ with two angels.
A Neighborhood Rich with Catholic History
The church stands in the Latin Quarter, the same neighborhood that was familiar to St. Tomas Aquinas when he lived in Paris. It is perched on the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, a hill overlooking the left bank of the Seine and the distant Notre-Dame Cathedral.
This beautiful edifice is famous for containing the relics of St. Genevieve, the patroness of Paris. Also, Blaise Pascal is buried here. Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass here in 1997 for the World Youth Day in Paris.
Directly across the street is the Panthéon, built by King Louis XV, originally intended to be dedicated to St. Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris. Her relics were to be housed in the church. By the time construction was completed, the French Revolution had started and it was decided the church would be a mausoleum.
King Clovis decided to be buried here along with his wife, Clotilde. Several other kings were later buried at this location as was St. Genevieve. In 502, the Abbey of Sainte-Genevieve was founded here next to the church, which became part of the Abbey.
