Paris1972-Versailles2003

I have written plenty on my belle France in my blog, many places, Once in a while , I write about a figure of French history that has attracted me even more to the République Française or the Royaume de France, The fact is the world’s most visited country according to the official UN WTO leaves no arguments, One huge figure in the history of France, and especially Paris was Sainte Geneviève. I found me a picture in my cd rom vault in my walks in the Jardin du Luxembourg that made me do this post, Therefore, I like to tell you a bit about Sainte Geneviève, patron saint of Paris !!! Hope you enjoy this post as I,

Geneviève was born in Nanterre around 420 and died in Paris between 502 and 512, is a Gallo-Roman saint, celebrated on January 3rd in the diocese of Nanterre and by the French Gendarmerie. In 451, Sainte Geneviève diverted the ambitions of Attila, King of the Huns, from the city and became the patron saint of Paris. The picture here is by Michel-Louis Victor Mercier,of Sainte Geneviève in the series Queens of France and Illustrious Women (Paris, at the Jardin du Luxembourg.

The only source of historical information about her is the Vita of Genevieve, a hagiographic text probably written at the request of Clotilde, the wife of Clovis. The anonymous author, likely a priest of Saint Martin of Tours whom the queen installed in Paris, claims to have written 18 years after the saint’s death, around 520, making it one of the very few literary monuments of the 6C in Gaul. Baptized, she dedicated herself to God at a very young age and, according to legend, was noticed by Saint Germanus of Auxerre and Saint Lupus of Troyes, who passed through Nanterre around 430 on their journey to the Roman province of Britain (present-day Great Britain). She led a consecrated and ascetic life, probably from the age of sixteen. She also convinced Clovis, whose supporter she had always been, to build a church dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul on Mons Lucotitius ,which today bears the name Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, in what is now the 5éme arrondissement of Paris, in the heart of the Latin Quarter. Sainte Geneviève is, also the patron saint of the French National Gendarmerie since the decree of May 18, 1962, signed by Pope John XXIII. The gendarmerie traditionally celebrates her feast day on November 26, in reference to the “Miracle of the Ardents,” which refers to the rye poisoning that struck Paris in 1130. The Orthodox Christians rediscovered Sainte Geneviève in the 1920s and 1930s, as evidenced by the few parishes bearing her name in the Paris region. In 2018, the Russian Orthodox Church included various Western saints, including Sainte Geneviéve, in its martyrology and liturgical calendar.

According to tradition, Sainte Geneviève’s tomb is located next to that of Clovis in the crypt of the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul ,later the former Abbey of Saint Genevieve in Paris, built by the King of the Franks. Around 630, Saint Eligius adorned the saint’s stone sarcophagus with finely chiseled gold plates and precious stones. The first known procession took place in 886 during the siege of Paris. In 1230, this reliquary was so badly damaged that Abbot Robert de la Ferté-Milon commissioned the Parisian goldsmith Bonnard to create a new reliquary in silver-gilt , from 1240 to 1242. It was rebuilt in 1614, during the regency of Marie de Medici. On November 8, 1793, the saint’s reliquary was taken to the Mint where the precious metals were melted down, while the gemstones were recovered. On November 21, the General Council of Paris had the saint’s bones burned in the Place de Grève (today place de l’Hôtel de Ville), and the ashes thrown into the Seine.

The new reliquary, made of engraved and gilded copper and venerated today in the Church Saint-Étienne-du-Mont (see post) is said to contain some relics (a forearm and some phalanges) that had been sent to other sanctuaries before the French revolution and were thus preserved from destruction. Although the reliquary has not been carried in procession outside since the 18C, the Confraternity of the Bearers of the Reliquary still exists, its role limited to carrying it within the church itself during the novena.

The official Porteurs de la Châsse de Sainte Genevièvre (Bearers of the Reliquary) : https://www.sainte-genevieve.net/

The Parrish of Nanterre on the life of Sainte Genevièvre : https://paroisses-nanterre.fr/bienvenue/histoire/vie-sainte-genevieve/

The City of Paris on the footsteps of Sainte Genevièvre : https://www.paris.fr/pages/sur-les-traces-de-la-patronne-de-paris-7458

The Paris tourist office on the Church Saint Etienne du Mont : https://parisjetaime.com/eng/culture/paroisse-saint-etienne-du-mont-p1214

There you go, I think I pay my respects to the patron Saint of Paris is worth it, After all, the history of Sainte Genevièvre is always fascinated and inspiring these days too. Glad to have her on my blog, and again ,hope you have enjoy the post on Sainte Geneviève, patron saint of Paris !!! as I

And remember, happy travels, good health and many cheers to all !!!