Church of Les Billettes, Paris

The legend and the first church Before the church was built, the site was occupied by an earlier chapel, built in 1295, known as "The Chapel of Miracles". According to the legend of the church, the site was originally occupied by the home of a Jewish merchant named Jonas. On Easter Sunday, April 2, 1290, Jonas had tried to profane Easter by piercing the host, the bread symbolizing the body of Christ, with a knife; the host bled the blood of Christ. He put it into boiling water, but it turned the water into blood. He threw it into the fire, but it flew away. The host was found outside some time later by a neighbor, and was preserved as a sacred object until the Revolution. Jonas was arrested and convicted of sacrilege, and was burned at the stake. His house was confiscated and demolished. The story was repeated in Medieval chronicles, and the site became a destination for pilgrims. In 1299 the Chapel of Miracles was built on the same site to commemorate the event. 17th-19th century church In 1633, the abbey and church were taken over by a new order, the Carmelites of the Observance of Rennes, also known as the Carmes-Billettes. In 1742 the Carmes-Billettes began construction of a larger church. They chose the architect Jacques Hardouin-Mansart de Sagonne (1711-1778), grandson of Jules Hardouin-Mansart, founder of the famed Mansard dynasty of architects. At that time Mansard de Sagonne was building the Cathédrale Saint-Louis de Versailles for King Louis XV at the Palace of Versailles. He designed a larger church for Les Billettes, which increased the number of worshippers from 960 to 1200. Construction of the new church lasted from 1754 until 1758. From the original medieval church only the cloister was preserved. During the French Revolution, the church was closed and sold. The cloister was used as a workshop for carpenters, while the church was used to store salt. In 1808, the Emperor Napoleon authorized the city of Paris to buy the church, which was then transferred to the Consistory of the Lutheran Church, which was looking for a Paris home. == The cloister ==

THe cloister is the only surviving part of the earlier medieval Chapel of Miracles. It was built in 1427, and was restored to its original form in 1968. It is composed of four galleries of arcades, supported by octagonal columns. The traverses are covered with Gothic rib vaults formed by pointed arches, The keystones of the vaults are decorated with sculpture. File:Cloître des Billettes @ Marais @ Paris (31706379835).jpg|Courtyard of the cloister File:Église des Billettes (13).JPG|Interior of the cloister File:P1370833 Paris IV cloitre des Billettes rwk.jpg|Detail of the cloister == Exterior ==

The facade of the church is in the neoclassical style, rising up in two levels. The lower level has Doric pilasters around the portal, while the upper level has Corinthian style pilasters. The triangular pediment at the top of the facade is in a fragile condition and is protected by a tarpaulin, which hides the decoration. File:P1370840 Paris IV cloitre des Billettes rwk.jpg|The cloister exterior File:Église des Billettes (17).JPG|The facade and bell tower File:Église luthérienne des Billettes.jpg|The church at night == Interior ==

The interior of the church is in the neoclassical style. The choir is round, surrounded with pilasters in the Corinthian style|. It is topped with a circle of windows with white glass, with a dome above. The windows and pilasters continue along the upper walls of the church to the portal. There are two levels of balconies or tribunes along the sides in the nave, supported by ionic style pillars. The church originally had only one level of balconies; the upper was added in 1824 by the Duchess of Orleans, who was an important patron of the church. Her loge had a separate concealed entrance, so she could come and go easily. In keeping with the doctrine of the Lutheran church, the decoration of the choir is extremely simple; only the most essential elements are present; an altar, candles, a crucifix, and a lectern. The altar and lectern are recent creations made by Philippe Keppelin in the 20th century. The organ of the church is found in the tribune at the end of the nave, over the portal. It is a modern instrument, made by the factor Mülheisen in 1982–1983. File:Rue des Archives-Eglise des Billettes-Inside-2.JPG|Dome of the choir File:Rue des Archives-Eglise des Billettes-Inside-1.JPG|Tribunes of the nave File:Rue des Archives-Eglise des Billettes-Inside-3.JPG|Upper window File:Rue des Archives-Eglise des Billettes-Organ.JPG|The portal and the organ == Art and decoration ==

The decoration of the church is rather austere, following Lutheran tradition, but it does contain three notable paintings from the 17th century: • The Good Samaritan and The Healing of the blind man of Jericho, both painted by Johann Carl Loth (1632-1698). They feature massive figures, dramatic illumination and warm colors, in the style of Mannerism. • Christ on the Cross by Lubin Baugin (1612-1663), showing the body of Christ filling the canvas, delicately illuminated and perfectly poised, against a background of turbulence and darknness == Notes and citations==

• Dumoulin, Aline; Ardisson, Alexandra; Maingard, Jérôme; Antonello, Murielle; Églises de Paris (2010), Éditions Massin, Issy-Les-Moulineaux, (in French) • Hillairet, Jacques; Connaissance du Vieux Paris; (2017); Éditions Payot-Rivages, Paris (in French). (In French) == External links ==