Basilica of Saint Mathurin

Last updated April 12, 2024

The Basilica of Saint-Mathurin de Larchant is a Catholic church located in Larchant (Seine-et-Marne), France. Although the church is commonly referred to as a basilica, it has not been designated as such by the pope and is therefore not a basilica under church rules for attributing such status.

History

The legend of Saint Mathurin

The church is dedicated to Saint Mathurin. A 10th-century manuscript provides an account of his life. According to his legend, he was born in Larchant at the end of the 3rd century to pagan parents. Mathurin had been initiated into the Catholic faith by Bishop Polycarp. He was ordained a priest at the age of twenty. At the time, Rome was stricken with various evils and the step-daughter of Emperor Maximian Hercules was tormented by a demon, who demanded that the Emperor bring from Gaul a holy man named Mathurin in order to perform an exorcism. The Emperor sent men to find Mathurin and to bring him to Rome.^[1]^,^[2]

While in Rome, Mathurin is said to have cured the sick and exorcised the devil who had been tormenting the emperor's step-daughter, Theodora. He remained in Rome for three years, performing many miracles. He died there on the Calends of November (1 November). Acceding to Mathurin’s request that his body be returned to his native village, the Emperor provided an escort to bring back Mathurin's body to Larchant. On his tomb, many miracles are said to have occurred and these were at the origin of a very important pilgrimage to Larchant in the Middle Ages.^[1]

Donation to the chapter of Notre Dame de Paris

Elisabeth Le Riche, daughter of Lisiard Le Riche, inherited Larchant from her father around 950. At the beginning of the 11th century, in agreement with her son Renaud de Vendôme, bishop of Paris, she gave Larchant to the chapter of Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris. The destiny of Larchant and its church was then inextricably linked to that of Notre Dame. Having become lord of Larchant, the chapter of Notre Dame played a primordial role there, especially in relation to the church. The French Revolution in 1789 put an end to this arrangement.^[3]

Pilgrimage

This pilgrimage developed in the Middle Ages and, for centuries, was one of the principal pilgrimages. In 1324, it flourished to such an extent that the canons used part of the pilgrims’ offerings to meet the needs of the clerics of Notre-Dame de Paris. The reputation of Larchant developed during the Middle Ages, and Larchant and Saint Mathurin feature in several songs of the period.

The throng of pilgrims made it necessary to build a much larger church. People came to ask for the intercession of Saint Mathurin for the healing of the insane and the possessed. The old route du Midi (road to the south of France) passed near the village and many pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela stopped there to contemplate Mathurin’s relics.^[4]

Several kings made pilgrimages to Larchant: Charles IV in 1325, Louis XI in 1467, Charles VIII in 1486, François 1er in 1519 and 1541, Henri II in 1551, Henri III in 1587 and Henri IV in 1599.^[3]^,^[5]

The pilgrimage peaked towards the end of the Middle Ages. It disappeared after the Revolution. Some priests and faithful tried to revive it at the beginning of the 20th century. The tradition was resumed after the war of 1914 and a ceremony still takes place on Whit Monday to honor Saint Mathurin.

Physical damage

The church suffered numerous vicissitudes over the centuries, including fire and damage inflicted by severe storms as well as by marauding armies. Irremediable damage took place during the wars of religion. In October 1567, Guillaume de Beaumont, Chevalier du Boulay (a place near Nemours) snuck into the village at night at the head of 100 armed men and plundered the relics and pillaged the church. The following year, the Comte de Montgomery burned down the church and the village, causing damage which is visible to this day. In 1608, a storm damaged the roof and the stained glass windows; in 1652, the village and the church were pillaged by the troops of the Baron of Entragues; in 1654, a strong wind destroyed half of the roof ; and, in 1674, lightning destroyed the attic of the nave.^[3]^:17Another major disaster occurred on 25 September 1675, with the collapse of the northwest pillar of the great tower, which fell into and destroyed part of the nave.^[3]^:16,^[6]

Various attempts were made to repair this extensive damage, but the great expense entailed by this project meant that progress was slow. In 1585, the decision was taken to abandon half of the nave in order to cut costs, resulting in the wall, still visible today, that splits the church in two.^[3]

These events ushered in a long period of decline. Pilgrims were rare and Larchant became a simple agricultural village. The stones from the ruins of the nave were put up for sale in 1827 and the church was saved only by the fact that its demolition would have been so difficult.^[3]^:17

A major restoration campaign took place at the beginning of the 20th century, under the direction of the architect Albert Bray. In the early 1980s, a new campaign to restore the church was launched, under the impetus of the Cultural Association of Larchant and with the support of State, regional and municipal governments.^[3]^:18-21

Listed historic monument, but not a basilica

The church was listed as a historic monument by Prosper Mérimée in the mid-19th century.^[7] Although the church is routinely referred to as a basilica, it is not considered a basilica by the Catholic Church because it has not been the object of a papal brief naming it as a 'minor' or 'lesser' basilica.'^[8]

Architecture

The basilica is one of the jewels of Gothic architecture in Île-de-France. Construction work took place over more than three centuries, from the end of the twelfth century to the beginning of the sixteenth century. The dimensions of the building are: total interior length (including the ruined nave): 57 meters, length of the transept: 29 meters, height of the vaults: 18 meters, height of the tower: 50 meters.

Interior

The church is entered through the side doors of the transept. The choir is composed of a single bay, in the extension of the apse on a semi-circular plan. The interior was originally lit by two rows of high, wide windows, framed by molded archivolts on small columns. The facades of the transept are each lit by three high windows.

Exterior

On the exterior of the church, the apse has sturdy buttresses which give stability to the structure and allow the implementation of the so-called "thin wall" technique which lends great elegance to the church’s interior. This powerful architecture was modified in the 15th century when the chapel of the Virgin and the sacristy were built on either side. The polygonal chapel of the Virgin Mary presents high windows adorned with gables which once supported statues. The presence of ornate pinnacles and gargoyles represents a departure from the sobriety of the early Gothic style that characterizes the apse.

The nave opens through a portal, now damaged, which was at one time the entrance to the church, before the construction of the great tower. Construction of the massive bell tower began in the early 13th century, but was not completed until the 15th century. The ground floor of the tower is an open porch on three sides. It is made up of huge pillars supporting the arches of the vault, which has now disappeared. Above rise the three floors of the tower. The two north and east facades are intact, while the western facade is badly damaged and the southern one has completely collapsed.^[3]^:22-43

The Portal of the Last Judgment

Under the porch is a tympanum depicting the Last Judgment. Christ sits on high and in the center, surrounded by four angels carrying thuribles (incense urns), with one also holding the sun and another the moon. To the left and the right of Christ, two angels hold the attributes of the passion: the lance and nails. Next to these angels are the crowned Mother Mary (to the left) and Saint John (to the right). Underneath, the dead rise from their coffins to face judgment.

On each side of the portal are sculpted columns with figures of saints that have been decapitated by vandals, probably during the attacks of 1567-1568. The figures are thought to be, on the left, Saint James with his basket full of scallop shells, Saint Andrew with his cross, and Saint Peter with his book of epistles. On the right (from left to right) two of the figures are Saint Paul with his book of epistles, Saint Étienne with a palm frond and a book of the gospels. The third figure has been missing for centuries.

Also visible for someone standing in front of the portal are small bas-reliefs representing the months of the year in terrestrial life. On the left are: January (a man seated at a table); February (a man in front of a fireplace); March (a man pruning grapevines). To the right are: October (a man sowing seed); November (gathering of chesnuts); and December (a man butchering a pig). The missing months were eliminated in 1490 during a modification of the portal.^[3]^:38-43

Related Research Articles

Chartres Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres, is a Catholic church in Chartres, France, about 80 km southwest of Paris, and is the seat of the Bishop of Chartres. Mostly constructed between 1194 and 1220, it stands on the site of at least five cathedrals that have occupied the site since the Diocese of Chartres was formed as an episcopal see in the 4th century. It is one of the best-known and most influential examples of High Gothic and Classic Gothic architecture, It stands on Romanesque basements, while its north spire is more recent (1507–1513) and is built in the more ornate Flamboyant style.

Cathedrals, collegiate churches, and monastic churches like those of abbeys and priories, often have certain complex structural forms that are found less often in parish churches. They also tend to display a higher level of contemporary architectural style and the work of accomplished craftsmen, and occupy a status both ecclesiastical and social that an ordinary parish church rarely has. Such churches are generally among the finest buildings locally and a source of regional pride. Many are among the world's most renowned works of architecture. These include St Peter's Basilica, Notre-Dame de Paris, Cologne Cathedral, Salisbury Cathedral, Antwerp Cathedral, Prague Cathedral, Lincoln Cathedral, the Basilica of Saint-Denis, Santa Maria Maggiore, the Basilica of San Vitale, St Mark's Basilica, Westminster Abbey, Saint Basil's Cathedral, Antoni Gaudí's incomplete Sagrada Família and the ancient cathedral of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, now a mosque.

Strasbourg Cathedral or the Cathedral of Our Lady of Strasbourg, also known as Strasbourg Minster, is a Catholic cathedral in Strasbourg, Alsace, France. Although considerable parts of it are still in Romanesque architecture, it is widely considered to be among the finest examples of Rayonnant Gothic architecture. Architect Erwin von Steinbach is credited for major contributions from 1277 to his death in 1318, and beyond through his son Johannes von Steinbach, and his grandson Gerlach von Steinbach, who succeeded him as chief architects. The Steinbachs’ plans for the completion of the cathedral were not followed through by the chief architects who took over after them, and instead of the originally envisioned two spires, a single, octagonal tower with an elongated, octagonal crowning was built on the northern side of the west facade by master Ulrich Ensingen and his successor, Johannes Hültz. The construction of the cathedral, which had started in the year 1015 and had been relaunched in 1190, was finished in 1439.

The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Amiens, or simply Amiens Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic church. The cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Amiens. It is situated on a slight ridge overlooking the River Somme in Amiens, the administrative capital of the Picardy region of France, some 120 kilometres north of Paris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint-Pierre de Montmartre</span> Church in arrondissement of Paris, France

Saint-Pierre de Montmartre is the second oldest surviving church in Paris, after the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Pres. It is one of the two main churches on Montmartre, the other being the more famous 19th-century Sacré-Cœur Basilica, just above it. Saint-Pierre de Montmartre, begun in 1133, was the church of the prestigious Montmartre Abbey, destroyed in the French Revolution.

The Basilica of Notre-Dame, Boulogne, otherwise the Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, is a minor basilica located in Boulogne-sur-Mer in the Pas-de-Calais département of northern France. The basilica, a prominent landmark of the city with its 101 metres (331 ft) high dome, was built between 1827 and 1875 on the site of the medieval cathedral of Boulogne: the basilica is still known locally as the "cathedral", although the present church has never had that status.

The Church of Saint-Merri or Église Saint-Merry) is a parish church in Paris, located near the Centre Pompidou along the rue Saint Martin, in the 4th arrondissement on the Rive Droite. It is dedicated to the 8th century abbot of Autun Abbey, Saint Mederic, who came to Paris on pilgrimage and later died there in the year 700. In 884 Mederic was declared patron saint of the Right Bank.

Larchant is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region. It is located on the southern edge of the Forest of Fontainebleau.

Toul Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church in Toul, Lorraine, France. It is a classic example of late Gothic architecture in the Flamboyant style. The cathedral has one of the biggest cloisters in France.

Le Puy Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church located in Le Puy-en-Velay, Auvergne, France. The cathedral is a national monument. It has been a centre of pilgrimage in its own right since before the time of Charlemagne, as well as being a stopover on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. Since 1998 it has been part of a multi-location UNESCO World Heritage Site along France's Santiago pilgrimage routes. It is the seat of the Bishop of Le Puy.

Maturinus, or Mathurin was a Gallo-Roman exorcist and missionary venerated as a saint.

Early Gothic is a term for the first phase of Gothic style, followed by High Gothic and Late Gothic, dividing the whole Gothic era into three periods. It is defined as a style that used some principle elements of Gothic, but not all. Especially, it had no fine tracery. It marks the first phase of a division of Gothic style into three periods. If it is used for all countries, it has to be regarded that there may be special terms for the styles of single countries, such as Early English in England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paray-le-Monial</span>

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paray-le-Monial, commonly known as Basilica of Paray-le-Monial, is a Romanesque church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Paray-le-Monial, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, eastern France. It is a popular landmark and one of the most visited religious site in France. The Sacred Heart of Jesus was an increasingly popular devotion since the visions of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690).

Notre-Dame de Reims, known in English as Reims Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral in the French city of the same name, the archiepiscopal see of the Archdiocese of Reims. The cathedral was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and was the traditional location for the coronation of the kings of France. Reims Cathedral is considered to be one of the most important pieces of Gothic architecture. The cathedral, a major tourist destination, receives about one million visitors annually. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.

The Basilica of Notre-Dame d'Alençon is a Gothic parish church located in Alençon, Orne, France. It was elevated to the rank of minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">French Romanesque architecture</span> Medieval architectural style

Romanesque architecture appeared in France at the end of the 10th century, with the development of feudal society and the rise and spread of monastic orders, particularly the Benedictines, which built many important abbeys and monasteries in the style. It continued to dominate religious architecture until the appearance of French Gothic architecture in the Île-de-France between about 1140 and 1150.

The Basilica of Saint-Remi is a medieval abbey church in Reims, France. It was founded in the 11th century "over the chapel of St. Christophe where St. Remi was buried." It is "the largest Romanesque church in northern France, though with later additions." The church has been a monument historique since 1840, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991 as a part of Cathedral of Notre-Dame, former Abbey of Saint-Remi and Palace of Tau.

Gothic cathedrals and churches are religious buildings created in Europe between the mid-12th century and the beginning of the 16th century. The cathedrals are notable particularly for their great height and their extensive use of stained glass to fill the interiors with light. They were the tallest and largest buildings of their time and the most prominent examples of Gothic architecture. The appearance of the Gothic cathedral was not only a revolution in architecture; it also introduced new forms in decoration, sculpture, and art.

The Basilica and Cathedral of Saint-Étienne in Paris, on the Île de la Cité, was an early Christian church that preceded Notre-Dame de Paris. It was built in the 4th or 5th century, directly in front of the location of the modern cathedral, and just 250 meters from the royal palace. It became one of the wealthiest and most prestigious churches in France. Nothing remains above the ground of the original cathedral. It was demolished beginning in about 1163, when construction began on Notre-Dame de Paris. Vestiges of the foundations remain beneath the pavement of the square in front of Notre-Dame and beneath the west front of the cathedral. The church was built and rebuilt over the years in the Merovingian, Carolingian and Romanesque architectural styles.

The Basilica of Saint Maternus, also known as the basilica of Our Lady is a minor basilica in Walcourt, in the Namur Province of Belgium. According to legend, an oratory was founded here by Maternus of Cologne, who also carved a Madonna to replace an earlier pagan idol. The church does in fact contain a wooden Madonna, albeit from 950 to 1020, but still one of the oldest preserved Marian devotional statues in Western Christianity. The church was consecrated in 1026. The presence of the Madonna and its allegedly miraculous properties led to the development of the church into a pilgrimage site during the Middle Ages. Subsequently, the church was rebuilt into the Gothic edifice seen today between the 13th and 16th centuries. It contains a decorated rood screen from 1521, donated by Emperor Charles V, and decorated choir stalls from the early 16th century. The church has been damaged by fire and war on several occasions, most recently in May 1940 during World War II. Since 1941 it has been a listed building, and since 1950 classified as a minor basilica.

References

1 2 "Iconographie chrétienne : Saint Mathurin". www.eglisesduconfluent.fr. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
↑ Morel, Pierre (1988). Traduction de la plus ancienne vie de Saint Mathurin. Larchant, 10000 ans d'histoire (in French). Château-Musée de Nemours, Association Culturelle de Larchant. pp. 106–114.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Association Culturelle de Larchant. Saint Mathurin de Larchant et son Église (in French). Larchant: Association Culturelle de Larchant. ISBN 978-2-908047-07-3.
↑ Dulin, Priscilla (1995). Le pèlerinage de saint Mathurin de Larchant: aspects spirituels et matériels (in French). Nanterre: memoire de maitrise d'histoire; Université Paris X-Nanterre. p. 185.
↑ Thoison, Eugène (1888). Les sejours des rois de France dans le Gâtinais (in French). Orléans, Herluison: Picard. p. 197.
↑ Verdier, Marc (1969). L'église Saint-Mathurin de Larchant. Amis des Monuments et Sites de Seine-et-Marne.
↑ "Eglise Saint-Mathurin". www.pop.culture.gouv.fr. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
↑ "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Basilica". www.newadvent.org. Retrieved 2022-05-05.

48°17′02″N2°35′47″E / 48.28402°N 2.59625°E / 48.28402; 2.59625

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[:0-1] 1 2 "Iconographie chrétienne : Saint Mathurin". www.eglisesduconfluent.fr. Retrieved 2022-05-04.

[2] Morel, Pierre (1988). Traduction de la plus ancienne vie de Saint Mathurin. Larchant, 10000 ans d'histoire (in French). Château-Musée de Nemours, Association Culturelle de Larchant. pp. 106–114.

[:1-3] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Association Culturelle de Larchant. Saint Mathurin de Larchant et son Église (in French). Larchant: Association Culturelle de Larchant. ISBN 978-2-908047-07-3.

[4] Dulin, Priscilla (1995). Le pèlerinage de saint Mathurin de Larchant: aspects spirituels et matériels (in French). Nanterre: memoire de maitrise d'histoire; Université Paris X-Nanterre. p. 185.

[5] Thoison, Eugène (1888). Les sejours des rois de France dans le Gâtinais (in French). Orléans, Herluison: Picard. p. 197.

[6] Verdier, Marc (1969). L'église Saint-Mathurin de Larchant. Amis des Monuments et Sites de Seine-et-Marne.

[7] "Eglise Saint-Mathurin". www.pop.culture.gouv.fr. Retrieved 2022-05-04.

[8] "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Basilica". www.newadvent.org. Retrieved 2022-05-05.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]