The Notre-Dame Reims (Reims Cathedral)

According to legend when Clovis I was baptized, a white dove brought a vial of oil (Oil of Catechumens – used to protect the baptized from evil or Oil of Chrism – the seal of the covenants).  The white dove, as in Jesus’ baptism, connected Clovis I, the church of Reims, and the French Monarchy with the knowledge that the Kings were anointed by the Lord.  This sculpture standing outside the Basilique Saint Remi, just down the street from the Reims Cathedral, visualizes the baptism for posterity.  Saint Remigius’ church in Reims shows Saint Remigus baptizing Clovis.  Notice Clovis is pious, hands folded, gazing downward. St. Remigus, arm outstretched to Clovis, eyes fixed on Clovis holds his shepherd’s staff, and you can almost hear him saying, “In the Name of the Farther, Son and Spirit.”  Then the reality.  To Clovis’ right, at his feet, the crown and the sword of a warrior king.

Standing majestically, the cathedral is an exceptional example of High Gothic construction of structural pillars and walls of stained glass.  All you see are a combination of  sculptures and spirals reaching toward the heavens.  Approaching the main entrance from the west everything I had read was true.  The entire facade was carved stone, except standing there, taking it in, it looked weightless, like it was floating in front of you.  That is the magic of the High Gothic construction, it generates the impression of spirituality and a special Godliness.

Use this link to watch a short Reims Cathedral Slide Show.

The Reims Cathedral is where the Kings of France were crowned on a regular basis starting with Louis VIII in 1223 ending with Charles X in 1825. 

Reims association with the Kings of France started with Clovis I, when he was baptized in Reims in 496.  Not the first king of France, Clovis was the kingdom’s political and religious founder.  Since his baptism in 496 CE, the kings of France have made a pilgrimage to Reims.

In the 5th Century, during the Merovingian period, a church was built on the cathedral’s present location, previously a Gallo-Roman Bath, by Bishop Nicasius. The existing High Gothic Cathedral, based on the design of the Chartres Cathedral, is the work of the Capetian Dynasty.  The Capetian monarchy founded in 987 actually held control of the Île de France, the immediate area around Paris, and very little else in France.   To extend and consolidate their power and influence they built a ring of High Gothic Cathedrals surrounding Paris in the cities of Reims, Amiens, Rouen, Chartres and Sens. 

Another figure of history associated with the Reims Cathedral is Joan of Arc.  Because of her insistence and leadership of the French Army, the siege of Orléans was broken in 1427.  This victory paved the way for her to lead the French Army to the destruction of the English army at Patay.  This opening of eastern France allowed for the coronation of Charles VII on July 17, 1429 in the Reims Cathedral.  This was one of 25 coronations which took place in the cathedral between 1223 and 1825.

Some of the best-known windows in the cathedral are modern, and are found in the axial chapel at the east end of the cathedral. These are the three windows made by Marc Chagall in association with glass artist Charles Marq. On the left is The Tree of Jessie, with the left side partially hidden.  The rose at the top “Announces the Birth of Christ.”  Below is “Mary Carrying the Child” and below her is “Solomon Delivering Justice” and at the bottom is “From the Side of Jesse springs the Kings of Judah.”  In the center window at the crown is “Hand of God the Creator.”  The rose window shows “The Radiance of the Holy Spirit”.  The left column has “Christ rising from the Tomb”, “The Descent From the Cross”, The Sacrifice of Issac”, “Issac Blessing Jacob” and “Jacob’s Dream.”  In the right column is “Christ Crucified”, ‘Abraham and Melchizedek”, “Abraham Receives Three Angels” and Abraham’s Dream of the Covenant.”  In the right window we see the rose window is the “Vision of the Apocalypse” and “The Lamb of God Surrounded by the Four Evangelists.”  In the visible left panel is “The Parable of the Good Samaritan”, “Proposal to the Earthly Kings”, “Saint Louis Delivering Justice” and “The Coronation of the Young Saint Louis.”

The Reims Cathedral is huge.  The exterior is approximately 489 feet.  The interior length is 453 feet.  The Nave width is 48 feet.  The interior walls of the nave reaching 125 feet.  It is a stunning combination of flying buttresses whose job is to hold up the stone roof and keep the glass walls and statues in place. The intention is to fill the cathedral with light, displaying the light we expect to find in heaven, and it works very well.  Even on the rainy day we toured the cathedral, it was filled with a soft gentle light.

Between the statues filling every available spot on the exterior, there is a range of statues commemorating the Kings of France and Christian saints in the interior.  It has been said the Reims Cathedral has more statues than any other Christian cathedral. 

Common in all the Gothic Cathedrals is the basic design.  Each cathedral has a side aisle on the right and left of the central nave,  Separating the nave from the aisles is a line of piers or pillars.  Looking up the ceiling you see three arches.  These represent the trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Seen here is the northern aisle from the ambulatory.   Looking across to the far side you can see the three arches staked upon each other, reaching to the heavens.

What captured my attention is that everything is organized to tell the story of the development and importance of Christianity and how this growth combined with and supported the development of  France.  Today we can look back on some of it as blatant propaganda.  In its time it could be called building a unified and educated nation.

Reims Cathedral north transept depicting the Last Judgement.  The dead climb from their graves and Jesus separates the people into two groups.   As you look from the top to the bottom row the group on Jesus’ left has been processed and is seen being forced to a cauldron by demons.  The group the right is being welcomed into heaven by angels.

Joan of Arc, clothed in battle armor and drawn sword, is shown leading the charge in front of the Reims Cathedral.  Because of her insistence and leadership of the French Army, the siege of Orléans was ended in 1427.  This victory paved the way for her to lead the French Army to the destruction of the English army at Patay.  The opening of eastern France allowed for the coronation of Charles VII on July 17, 1429 in the Reims Cathedral.  The bronze statue was designed by Paul Dubois and commissioned by the City of Reims in 1895.  There are four casting of the statue: St Augustin Church, Paris 1895 (cast by Edmond Gruet Jeune), Reims Cathedral 1896 (cast by Pierre Bingen/Fonderie Thiébaut), St Maurice’s Church Strasbourg 1897 (cast by Edmond Gruet Jeune); Meridian Hill Park, Washington DC Columbia Heights 1922 (reduced scale cast by Rudier Foundry)