Walking Paris is always sublime , enormous feeling of architecture and history all around you, and beauty. This is a not enough walk area of mine ,walked with the family couple times, and voilà saw this church and why not, a wonderful souvenir of my walks with the family in my eternal Paris. I found me again pictures in my cd rom vault that should be in my blog for you and me. Therefore, let me tell you again on the Church Saint François d’Assise of Paris !! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The Church Saint François d’Assise is located at 4 Rue de Mouzaïa in the 19éme arrondissement of Paris. This shrine is dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi to commemorate the seven hundredth anniversary of the creation of the Third Order of Saint Francis, founded in 1222. You get here on metro line 7 of the Botzaris and Danube stations as well as bus lines 48 and 60,
It replaces a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, which was located at 31 Rue du Général-Brunet. The neighborhood’s demographic expansion led the diocese to purchase this land to build a church on Rue de Mouzaïa, with a chapel on the lower level, accessible from Rue du Général-Brunet, dedicated to Saint Landry. Begun in 1914, work was interrupted during the Great War or WWI and resumed in 1919 ; finally finished in 1926.
The portal with three concentric semicircular arches is topped by a bell tower and embellished with a statue of Francis of Assisi. The entrance is perpendicular to the nave of the church so that it faces east, the point of appearance of daylight, a symbol of the risen Christ. A glass door invites you to climb the steps and reveals elegant wrought iron gates that provide access to the former baptistery and the organ loft.
The choir on the flat chevet, the Byzantine-style mosaic of the choir was created by the Mauméjean firm. Around Christ on the cross are Mary and the Apostle John. At the foot, Saint Francis, kneeling, receives the stigmata, while an old woman in black reminds us that the vocation of the Franciscans is to help the poor. The ensemble is enriched by the presence of great Franciscan saints: Saint Clare and Saint Bonaventure (on the right), Saint Louis and Saint Elizabeth of Hungary (on the left). The smaller Virgin Mary and Saint John surround Christ nailed to a cross surrounded by gold leaf. The invocation S[a]n[ct]e Francisce ora pro nobis, followed by the words Pax et Bonum, is written on the laurel border surrounding the fresco and is dominated by a sun, Brother Sun dear to Francis. On the choir arch, a fresco links scenes from the Gospel and the life of Saint Francis. Above, facing the nave, surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists, Christ in Majesty presents Francis for the veneration of the faithful. Glorifying angels carry phylacteries, banners on which are inscribed the names of the founding virtues of the Franciscan order: Humility, Chastity, Poverty, Charity.
The high altar is made of stone, decorated with mosaics. Two peacocks, symbols of the Resurrection, adorn the sides of the tabernacle. On the vault, episodes from the life of Saint Francis are accompanied by scenes from the life of Jesus.
The great Franciscan simplicity of the construction contrasts with the rich decoration of certain spaces where different influences coexist: Byzantine for the mosaic at the back of the choir, Romanesque for the painted frescoes, Art Deco for the high altar, the grille of the baptistery, and the staircase leading to the organ gallery. The stained-glass windows of the former Saint-François Chapel, on Rue Molitor were reinstalled in the nave in 2012. The layout and ornamentation follow the pattern of the churches of Umbria, the homeland of Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Clare, founder of the Poor Clares.
As an anecdote ,on April 18, 1954, Eddy Mitchell, French singer, lyricist, and actor, received his First Communion here.
The Parrish of Saint François d’Assise : https://saintfrancoisdassise.fr/patrimoine/
The Paris tourist office on the 19éme arrondissement de Paris : https://parisjetaime.com/eng/article/explore-paris-s-19th-arrondissement-a833
This is the wonderful way to walk Paris and see these off the beaten path monuments ,and they are many. This is a nice area, and walking is good for you too, sublime walk. Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Church Saint François d’Assise of Paris !! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 