Eglise de la Madeleine is the church of St Mary Magdalene on Place Madeleine in the elite 8th arrondissement of Paris, near Place de la Concorde. The church is one of the top three most visited religious buildings in the capital.
The most famous of the Myrrh-bearing Wives, Mary of Migdal-el (French pronunciation: Madeleine) is particularly popular in France. According to Catholic apocryphal sources, Mary Magdalene spent the last 30 years of her life in this very country, preaching Christianity.
History
The construction of the Church of Madeleine stretched over 85 years. It began in 1764 under Louis XV, who laid the foundation stone. The church was planned to be built as part of the beautification of the future Place de la Concorde in Paris.
In 1790, construction stalled due to a dramatic change in political conditions. There was a revolution in the country, gaining strength while still General Bonaparte. In 1793 the body of King Louis XVI, the most prominent victim of the Jacobin terror unleashed by the revolutionaries, was brought here after his execution. He was interred and buried in the cemetery nearby (later his and Marie Antoinette's remains were reburied in the Basilica of Saint-Denis). By order of the new authorities in 1797, the gallery, which had already been built, was demolished. Plans were discussed to give the building to a library or a market.
In 1806, Emperor Napoleon I decided that the Church of the Madeleine should be the Hall of Fame of his Grande Armée. After the restoration of the Bourbons in 1814, King Louis XVIII intended to dedicate the building under construction to the memory of the executed royal couple (see above). The Paris authorities also became involved in the debate about the future purpose of the building, and in 1837 they proposed to turn it into a railway station. Fortunately, it did not come to that, and in 1842 the church of Madeleine in Greco-Roman style was finally completed and consecrated.
Facade
Napoleon was very fond of the ancient Roman temple Maison Carrée preserved in the city of Nîmes. At the emperor's behest, the architect Pierre Vignon took it as a model. He built a huge rectangular building surrounded on all sides by columns (periptera). The 52 Corinthian columns, 20 metres high, make a strong impression. The length of the building - 108 m, width - 43 m.
On the main pediment with a portico there is a sculptural composition "The Last Judgement" by Philippe Henri Lemaire. In the centre we see Mary Magdalene, a former penitent sinner, on her knees begging Christ to forgive the sinners depicted on the left. There are 28 marble steps leading up to the entrance to the church, on either side of which are white and red flower beds. The bronze doors, weighing 3.2 tonnes, have bas-reliefs on the theme of the 10 Commandments.
At the entrance to the church are two sprinklers in the form of angel maidens, created in 1836 by sculptor Antoine Moin. The orthodox Catholics found them earthy and sensual, so the sculptor had to redesign them in 1840.
Interior
The Church of Madeleine has no side windows: the only sources of daylight are the lucarnes (window openings) in the three domes of the nave. It is therefore semi-dark inside. The cylindrical vaults inside the cathedral are supported by a colonnade of Corinthian columns. The interior is distinguished by luxurious decoration of white marble and gilding. Along the walls are side altars and many sculptures.
Three sculptural compositions stand out in the interior of the Shrine of Madeleine. Above the main altar is "The Ascension of Mary Magdalene" by Italian sculptor Charles Marochetti. Two other sculptural compositions on the sides of the altar are "The Crowning of the Virgin Mary" and "The Baptism of Christ" with a font."
Above the entrance inside the Shrine of the Madeleine is an organ made by the famous master Aristide Cavaillé-Coll with four keyboards and 58 registers. This instrument is among the best in Europe.
The main relics of the Church of the Madeleine are the relics of St Mary Magdalene and the miraculous icon of St Rita.
Photo: Joe deSousa. Source: Wikipedia
Main altar and frescoes
Mary Magdalene, unlike the Virgin Mary, was not bodily ascended to heaven. But, according to Catholic tradition, she prayed in a choir of angels, rising above the earth. Therefore painters of Catholic countries depict it and in the sky. On the vault of the main altar of the temple Jean-Claude Ziegler created a fresco about the meeting of Christ and Mary Magdalene in heaven. And the fresco "The History of Christianity" depicts prominent historical figures such as popes, cardinals, monarchs, and the French national heroine Joan of Arc.
Below, the semicircular mosaic frieze depicts saints who played a special role in the spread of Christianity in Gaul (the historical name of the area where modern France is located). The kneeling Mary Magdalene is at the centre of the composition next to Christ. Also depicted and relatives of the saint, according to Catholic sources - sister Martha and brother Lazarus (the same, resurrected).
Side altars and sculptures
To the left of the main altar of the Shrine of the Madeleine along the wall are the side altars with statues of St Augustine and the Virgin and Child. Further, at floor level, a statue of Joan of Arc was erected in 1909. Closer to the entrance you can see the statue of St Vincent and a plaster copy of the sculpture of the Virgin Mary installed in Lourdes (the place of Her apparition).
To the right of the main altar of the Shrine of Madeleine are statues of St Amalia from the mid-19th century, followed by a memorial tablet of the abbot of the church of Degerie, who died at the hands of the Communards in 1871. Above the altar of Christ the Saviour is His statue. Behind it, a carved oak pulpit under a canopy attracts attention. It is decorated with three medallions depicting St Matthew and the Apostles Peter and Paul. At the bottom of the pulpit are the symbols of the three evangelists. The altar on the far right is dedicated to St Clotilde. She was the wife of Chlodwig, the first Christian king of the Franks.
Church today
The excellent acoustics and the large capacity of the main hall make it ideal for classical and choral concerts. Exhibitions of paintings are also organised here. The church, like the Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris, is a popular place for weddings. Some aspects of the temple's activity are rather unusual. For example, there are free English language courses and an employment service for the unemployed. And in the church canteen you can have lunch for only 7.5 EUR.
How to get there
Address: Paris, Place Madeleine. The most convenient way to get to the church is by metro. You need to take the train lines 8, 12 or 14 and get to Madeleine station. Alternatively, take buses 24, 84, 94 to the stop of the same name.
