This church, on the left bank of the River Seine almost directly across from Notre-Dame, is a true gem: one of the oldest churches of Paris, it has been used by the Melkite community of this great city for more than a century.
The church was completely packed and the liturgy was beautifully chanted in Arabic, French and Greek by the choir and Father Maximos Fahmé.
Though no longer a young man, Father Maximos [psalmus.fr] has a beautiful singing voice, as can be heard in these two YouTube videos:
Thanks for posting this, particularly the link to the website - which is very impressive.
Many years,
Neil
"One day all our ethnic traits ... will have disappeared. Time itself is seeing to this. And so we can not think of our communities as ethnic parishes, ... unless we wish to assure the death of our community."
I am just back from Paris, and wish I had known about this church. When I am there, I usually go to the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral on Avenue Friedland just off Place de l'Etoile.
I think I first learnt about Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre from reading Father Serge's translation of Metropolitan Andrew by Father Cyril Korolevsky (Stauropegion, L'viv, 1993).
We'll get that fixed within a day or so. It looks as if you were one of those occasionally overlooked in the process of enabling it once a 'newbie' has been here long enough for us to be certain of their good intentions.
Many years,
Neil
"One day all our ethnic traits ... will have disappeared. Time itself is seeing to this. And so we can not think of our communities as ethnic parishes, ... unless we wish to assure the death of our community."
FWIW, I just returned from 2 weeks in France (1 week of that in Paris)... I, too, had the opportunity to go to a DL at St Julien's - just happened to stumble upon a weekday liturgy - came in during the Trisagion. I stayed to the end and chatted a bit in my elementary school french with one of the ladies.
I also visited Stuart's church - the Russian cathedral, however, they were closed so I was only able to snap a few exterior shots.
Inside St. Alexander Nevsky is a time machine--the place is a classic 19th century Russian Orthodox church in its architecture, iconography and appointments. It's also, sadly, rather run down and seedy--the rugs are threadbare and the walls and frescos stained from generations of guttering candles. Yet, for all that, the church is redolent with the strength and piety of the Russian Church. It has a magnificent (albeit small) male choir which sings the full repertoire of traditional Russian chant, the bishop, archimandrites and deacons all celebrate the Liturgy with full consciousness of baring the weight of the Tradition upon their backs. And, while when I first attended Liturgy there more than a decade ago, the congregation was dominated by aging White Russian expats, this time there were far more young people, often couples with children, that spoke of the renewal of the Orthodox faith in Russia, and among the substantial Russian and Ukrainian expatriate community in France.
Apparently, this was one of the 1st Churches to ever be built in Paris. Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is older than Notre Dame Cathedral itself isn't it?
I used to go to Saint Julien le Pauvre ages ago! Its beautiful inside.
However, most of the youth are either in Saint Severin or Notre Dame. Did you attend the Midnight Adoration Prayers held by les Semeurs d'Esperance??
L'Eglise Saint Julien le Pauvre indeed has a lovely interior. It is of major historic importance and was connected with an excellent choir which made some good recordings for Studio S M. The recordings may still be available.
Less happily for some of us, Saint Julien le Pauvre went entirely into Arabic around the time of Vatican II. Since then, my usual ecclesastical port of call in Parish is l'Eglise Tres Sainte Trinite - the Russian Greek-Catholic Church in Paris. It's a bit tricky to find, but it's convenient to the Metro, has lovely iconography and a good choir, beautiful services, a good-sized congregation with pleasant people of various ethnic backgrounds and serves in a flexible combination of Slavonic and French. So what's not to enjoy?
Also of interest is the "French Orthodox" Eglise Saint Irenee, which uses the Gallican Liturgy in French (excellent music) and serves as the cathedral of the "Eglise Catholique Orthodoxe de France", but was in communion with nobody the last time I looked. They offer some excellent CDs and DVDs for sale.
The bookshop "La Procure" is well worth a visit; you may well encounter some of your friends there. Outstandingly good selection, including some materials in English. Prices tend to be high, I regret to say.
There's more, but that should get you started.
Fr. Serge
Last edited by Fr Serge Keleher; 11/25/1005:14 AM.
L'Eglise Saint Julien le Pauvre indeed has a lovely interior. It is of major historic importance and was connected with an excellent choir which made some good recordings for Studio S M. The recordings may still be available.
Less happily for some of us, Saint Julien le Pauvre went entirely into Arabic around the time of Vatican II. Since then, my usual ecclesastical port of call in Parish is l'Eglise Tres Sainte Trinite - the Russian Greek-Catholic Church in Paris. It's a bit tricky to find, but it's convenient to the Metro, has lovely iconography and a good choir, beautiful services, a good-sized congregation with pleasant people of various ethnic backgrounds and serves in a flexible combination of Slavonic and French. So what's not to enjoy?
Also of interest is the "French Orthodox" Eglise Saint Irenee, which uses the Gallican Liturgy in French (excellent music) and serves as the cathedral of the "Eglise Catholique Orthodoxe de France", but was in communion with nobody the last time I looked. They offer some excellent CDs and DVDs for sale.
The bookshop "La Procure" is well worth a visit; you may well encounter some of your friends there. Outstandingly good selection, including some materials in English. Prices tend to be high, I regret to say.
There's more, but that should get you started.
Fr. Serge
Thanks, Fr. Serge.
Fortunately, St-Julien-le-Pauvre is no longer entirely in Arabic. It now has the liturgy in a mix of French, Greek and Arabic.
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