Description of the attraction
The Church of Saint-Etienne-du-Mont stands on Mount Saint Genevieve near the Pantheon. Before the French Revolution, there was the Abbey of Saint Genevieve in this area. It was one of the largest monasteries in Paris, founded by Clovis and his wife Clotilde (V-VI century). The population of the surrounding neighborhoods grew, the parishioners became more and more (in particular, due to the students of the nearby Sorbonne), and in 1222 Pope Honorius III blessed the construction of the parish church of St. Stephen. By the end of the 15th century, however, this church was already too small for parishioners. In 1492, the abbey allocated land on Mount Saint Genevieve for a more spacious temple. The construction of the renovated church lasted more than a century, its facade was completed in 1622-1626, and the building was consecrated by the Archbishop of Paris Jean-François de Gondi.
Above the church gates of Saint-Etienne-du-Mont, there is a relief depicting the death of the first martyr, the apostle from seventy Saint Stephen. Jerusalem deacon Stephen preached the Word of God, was put on trial and executed by stoning. Saint Stephen is equally revered in Catholicism and Orthodoxy.
The church is huge: the length of the main nave is 69 meters, width is about 30. The interior is with magnificent stained-glass windows, the finest stone lace of hanging galleries and stairs, many sculptures and a beautiful carved pulpit. The Parisians fell in love with the temple; the relics of the heavenly patroness of Paris, Saint Genevieve, were often brought here.
The Revolution, however, turned Saint-Etienne-du-Mont into a "temple of filial piety." The relics of the patroness of Paris were thrown into the sewers, the sculptures were overturned and smashed. The church was consecrated anew only in 1801, and under Napoleon III it was restored and the sculptural decoration was restored.
In Saint-Etienne-du-Mont, there is an ornate shrine that contains part of the relics of Saint Genevieve. The ashes of Blaise Pascal and Jean Racine lie here, Marat is buried in the local cemetery.
In 1997, Pope John Paul II celebrated Holy Mass here during his visit to Paris on the occasion of World Youth Day.
