Religion, Paris

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Eat bread like a Parisian
Parisians LOVE bread. You may think it stereotypical for them to be portrayed carrying a baguette munching it while walking thru the streets but this image of them still holds true. I snapped a photo of a Parisian in the Cité Florale area of the 13th arrondissement (as typical a Parisian area as you can find) carrying a baguette of bread home.

Try Poilâne’s (Lionel) at 8 rue du Cherche-Midi (a veritable shrine to bread) for a small round of their trademark sourdough (my favorite is with walnuts). While there buy one of their lovely signature linen bags either for yourself (to tote future bread) or for a friend; the emblem "Poilâne" is embroidered simply & elegantly on the side.

Photos: November 2007 & April 2003

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While I am semi-religious and do enjoy the faith aspects of attending a church service in a foreign country, I also go for the music, the architecture and the ambiance. I mean how else do you get to sit quietly [well stand sometimes] in Notre Dame or St. Eustache for a hour without feeling like a total tourist.
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For the record I have attended various church services not only in Paris, but in Great Britain, Hungary, Germany, Sweden, Belgium, Macedonia and Czech Republic.
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This last time in St. Eustache I was there for the famous organ as well as the service. I noted that there were many more locals than tourists and, although the ages were on the upside, there was a real sense of a lively parish church. Please enjoy my pictures of the church and get yourself over there some Sunday for a super church-going experience. Note: All pictures were taken AFTER the service.

The Great Mosk was built on a site which had been given by the city in 1922 in remembrance of the muslim soldiers who died during the First World War. With an exotic Hispano-Moresque style, the Mosk is dominated by a 33 metre-high minaret and has a central green patio with North-African decorations. The building includes a hammam, a restaurant and a café where you can enjoy, while sitting in the shade of the tree, traditional pastries and mint tea.

One of the most enjoyable things to do in Paris is to attend the organ auditions at the Cathedral of Notre Dame. The place gets crowded and the tourists keep going around, in respectful silence. Nobody reacts with indifference to the sound of such a wonderful instrument. It sends chills up your spine when the lower keys make the ground shake and it seem like the all the glasses will break.

I find it best when my favorite Bach chorals are on the program, bien sûr...

There is another fantastic instrument at Saint Eustache (Les Halles) with regular organ recitals every Sunday. It's inconveniently scheduled for 5:15pm, so there's never time to run from Notre Dame to see it too.

Every Sunday at 4:30pm, Cathédrale de Notre-Dame.

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In Catholicism religion, August 15 is the Holy Day of the celebration of the of Assumption of Holy Mary. After her "earthly life" she went to heaven to be reunited with Jesus Christ.
Although nothing is certain about the day or even year that Mary died, all around the world people celebrate her "departure" on this particular date.

At August 15, around 18:00, I was in front of the Notre Dame. Purely by coincidence this celebration just began. A huge, and beautiful statue of Mary was carried inside the church and hundreds of religious people followed her. It was an impressive experience to see so many people, singing together. Even after most of the people went inside, you could still follow the mass, because loudspeakers let it hear all over the square in front of the church.

If you are in Paris at the 15th of August, you should definitely go the the Notre Dame around 18:00 to experience this celebration.

In every church you enter you will see a bank of lighted candles. These can be in memory [as these are in St. Germain de Près], or as a offering to a saint in thanks or in hope ... They usually cost around 1 euro.

The Cathedral of Notre Dame has been tipped as 'World Ambassador of Gothic Cathedrals' !
It was constructed in 3 stages & was completed in 1250...
The photos all taken by me amidst of my own hectic schedules in seeing as many Paris sights as possible...

It may not be obvious to the casual visitor, but Sacre Coeur is the site of an unbroken vigil, 24/7, of persons praying before the Blessed Sacrament, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. This began when the church was first constructed and has never stopped -- even during two World Wars & Occupation. When you arrive, you can see the Blessed Sacrament in its monstrance, high over the altar. When it is necessary to clean the church, this is covered but before it is, a small monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament is moved to a side chapel. As you move around, behind the main altar, you will find the chapel because it will be filled with people praying.

Sacre Coeur is open to the public 6am - 11pm. Adoration continues overnight and if you wish to be present then, you must have a reservation in advance which you can do at the website below.

Of course, every person should be respectful when entering any place of worship and you will especially annoy Parisians (and others who are there to pray) if you do not maintain silence. If you must speak, keep your voice very, very low. Also, please do not enter if you are not dressed properly -- that is, no short shorts, halter tops, or other skimpy clothing.

These are the photos that I took inside Saint Merry Church, located in Le Marais area, near George Pompidou Centre...
I was walking in that area, on my own while Patrick, Alain & Adele were having drinks at a Parisien Cafe...The exterior of this church, it was shabby, hence not easy to find it.
I guess I stumbled upon it...

These are the photos that I took inside Saint Merry Church, located in Le Marais area, near George Pompidou Centre...
I was walking in that area, on my own while Patrick, Alain & Adele were having drinks at a Parisien Cafe...The exterior of this church, it was shabby, hence not easy to find it.
I guess I stumbled upon it...