Sainte-Thérèse basilica
The Sainte-Thérèse basilica is a minor basilica in Lisieux , France . The basilica, completed in 1954, is dedicated to St. Therese von Lisieux (1873–1897) . The church building, built in neo-Byzantine style , can hold up to 4,000 people and is visited by over two million people every year. It is one of the largest churches built in the 20th century. According to Lourdes , the Basilica of St. Therese the second largest pilgrimage site in France .
history
After the canonization of Therese in 1925 it was decided that one of the Saints to build church dedicated in her hometown. The responsible Bishop of Bayeux , Thomas-Paul-Henri Lemonnier, had the full support of Pope Pius XI for the realization of the project . who venerated her and who had his entire pontificate under the patronage of St. Therese posed. Construction began in 1929 and ended in 1954. The church rises on a hill on the edge of Lisieux. The money for the construction was partly raised through donations; The internationality of the donations is reflected in the 18 side altars in the church, which represent the respective nation.
On July 11, 1937, the basilica was consecrated by the papal envoy Eugenio Cardinal Pacelli, later Pope Pius XII. During the Second World War the construction work was suspended, the completion of the church did not take place until 1954. Two thirds of the city Lisieux was destroyed in the Second World War; the parts of the church that had been built before the war, however, suffered little damage from the bombardment. The consecration of the Church was made on July 11, 1951 by the Archbishop of Rouen , Joseph-Marie Martin , and the Nuncio Maurice Cardinal Feltin .
architecture
basilica
The construction of the 90-meter-high basilica was planned and executed by three architects: Louis Marie Cordonnier (1854–1940), his son Louis-Stanislas Cordonnier and his grandson Louis Cordonnier. The appearance of the sacred building with the cross-shaped floor plan is based on the Parisian basilica Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre ; the church itself is built in the neo-Byzantine style . A large dome rises over the crossing of the 105 meter long main nave and the 65 meter wide transept. The walls of the nave are largely covered with mosaics .
crypt
The crypt , completed in 1932, is also decorated with mosaics depicting scenes from the life of St. Therese show: baptism, first communion, miraculous healing, entry into the Carmel of Lisieux and death. In the summer of 1944, residents of the city sought refuge in the crypt, including the convent of the Discalced Carmelite Sisters of Lisieux, which at that time included two other Theresa sisters.
Furnishing
organ
The organ was installed in 1943. The instrument was built in 1935 for the Brussels World's Fair . In Lisieux it was installed in two organ cases: the main unit and the pedal unit as well as the console are located on the south pore. The slider chest instrument has 55 stops on three manual works and a pedal . The playing and stop actions are electric.
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Carillon
The bell tower from the 1960s stands a little apart from the main building on the forecourt. With its 51 bells it can be used as a carillon . Like many parts of the basilica, the bells were donated by countries where St. Therese is particularly adored.
Web links
- Entry no. EA14141211 in the Base Mérimée of the French Ministry of Culture (French)
Individual evidence
- ↑ www.saint-therese.org
- ↑ www.therese-de-lisieux.catholique.fr ( Memento of the original dated December 22, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ www.kathedralen.net
- ↑ Information on the organ (French)
Coordinates: 49 ° 8 ′ 22.7 " N , 0 ° 14 ′ 11.9" E