I bring you back to my eternal Paris and so glad found me more pictures in my cd rom vault that should be in my blog for you and me, I have, also told you that there is so many things to see here that you will need a lifetime. Passed by it as it is in a popular area, and finally went in a while back. There is always time to indulge in Paris and there is always new things to see . Therefore, let me tell you a bit on the Church Saint Thomas Aquinas of Paris !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I,
The Church Saint Thomas Aquinas is at 5 Place St Thomas Aquinas between Rue du Bac and Boulevard Saint Germain, and in the 7éme arrondissement of Paris, You can reach it by metro line 12 Rue du Bac station or bus line 87 that I am familiar and others.
The choir is renowned as the most beautiful in Paris. In the 19-20C, its lost riches were replaced by numerous works of art donated by the City of Paris. In addition to the magnificent paintings, there is a series of 20C statues in a very modern style. There are beautiful chapels such as the Saint-Dominique Chapel ,Saint-Vincent-de-Paul Chapel, and the Chapel of the Virgin, The baroque dome at the crossing of the transept is surrounded by the vaults of the Chapels of the Virgin and Saint-Vincent. The Saint-Louis Chapel dates from 1722. The painting “Saint Louis Doing Justice Under the Oak” The murals on either side of the altar are by Merry-Joseph Blondel on the left The Translation of the Ark of the Covenant; on the right: High Priest Aaron Blessing the People of God. On the side walls, in grisaille: the theological and cardinal virtues. The dome is adorned with paintings by Merry-Joseph Blondel, “Strength and Justice.” The dome extends into a Baroque vault
decorated with a stained-glass window dedicated to the Trinity: Christ Teaching, The Virgin in Meditation, and the Evangelists two by two. In the pendentives: Saint Thomas, Saint Dominic, Saint Vincent de Paul, and Saint Francis de Sales. And the painting The Virgin in Meditation. The gallery organ was built by Cliquot in 1769, restored by Dallery in 1802 and Cavaillé-Coll in 1861.
In 1632, the construction of a chapel for the Order of Preachers was undertaken at the corner of Rue du Bac and Chemin des Vaches. The monastery of Saint-Thomas-d’Aquin was created by Françoise de Saliné in 1604; her religious name was Françoise des Séraphins. The construction of the current church began in 1682 and was consecrated in 1683 under the name of Saint-Dominique church. The first stone of the church was laid by the Duchess of Luynes, Anne de Rohan Montbazon, owner of the Hôtel de Luynes located between the monastery and Rue Saint Dominique. Dedicated to Saint Dominic, the church was consecrated the following year by Monsignor François Harlay de Champvallon. The place of worship was then reserved for the monastery’s monks. The Latin cross-shaped church was built around a nave with side aisles, In 1722, the construction of the religious choir, now the Saint-Louis Chapel, began. The monks’ choir, opened the church to the public, at least to ladies of good society, who were also often patrons. The artist François Lemoyne worked on the ceiling decoration in 1723, on which he painted a Transfiguration. Then about ten years later, from 1735 to 1739, the construction of the Dominican novitiate was undertaken. It was not until 1770 that Brother Claude, a Dominican, built the portal of this church. The French Dominicans are also called Jacobins, because their first convent was the Jacobin Convent on Rue Saint-Jacques. Before 1790, it was part of the Jacobin Convent on Rue Saint Dominique. The convent church was erected as a parish in 1791, and placed under the patronage of Thomas Aquinas. But in the context of dechristianization which reigned then in 1793, the religious were expelled. The church became in 1797 a temple of Reason dedicated to peace which was granted to the “Theophilanthropists”, then to the Jacobin Club. The Church Saint Thomas d’Aquin took its current name in 1802 ,when it became a parish church. The church was returned to Catholic worship in 1802, following the Concordat between the French Republic and the Holy See in 1801. Pope Pius VII, passing through Paris for the coronation of Napoleon Ier, celebrated Mass there on December 26, 1804.
The official Parish Church Saint Thomas d’Aquin :https://www.eglisesaintthomasdaquin.fr/
The City of Paris on the Church Saint Thomas d’Aquin : https://www.paris.fr/lieux/eglise-saint-thomas-d-aquin-19495
The Paris tourist office on the 7éme arrondissement de Paris : https://parisjetaime.com/eng/article/explore-paris-s-7th-arrondissement-a825
There you go folks, a masterpiece church often overlook and totally bypassed by yours truly until now. Paris is always amazing and so is my belle France. Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Church Saint Thomas Aquinas of Paris as I,
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 