The Saint-François-Xavier church (Église Saint-François-Xavier de Paris) is located at the Place du Président-Mithouard in the 7th arrondissement of Paris (France); it is the place of worship of the Catholic parish “Saint-François-Xavier-des-Missions-Étrangères”.
The church is located along the Boulevard des Invalides, at Place du Président-Mithouard and Place André-Tardieu. It is framed by the square Pierre-de-Gaulle and the square de l’Abbé-Esquerré.
It is served by line 13 of the Paris metro at Saint-François-Xavier station and by RATP bus lines 82 and 87.
The church has been listed — in its entirety — since June 2018 as a historic monument.
The exterior was modelled after the Italian basilicas of the Renaissance, with the modern advantage of an iron frame hidden by the stone walls, allowing less massive walls, more interior space, and larger windows. The triangular fronton is decorated with sculpture illustrating “Saint Francois-Xavier baptising inhabitants of India and Japan.
The nave is flanked by two lower aisles lined by chapels, separated from the nave by massive pillars with Corinthian capitals. The decor of the nave is largely Neo-classical in design, with while the adjoining Chapel of the Virgin, at the east end, is decorated in Renaissance style. The iron structure of the church, hidden by the stone walls, makes possible the larger windows and abundance of light.
The interior is dominated by the massive theatrical arch over the choir and the altar, painted with a frieze by Romain Cazes (1808-1881), depicting “Two Angels supporting the Book of the Evangelists.” The figures of the angels stand out from the floral background behind them, which is decorated with the symbols of the angels. The frieze was inspired by the ornamental designs of illuminated manuscripts. A second major decorative element is the wall above the altar, with a painting of Moses and the tablets of the Ten Commandments; accompanied by figures of an angel appearing in a burning bush, and a figure of Aaron, holding rods, instruments of Biblical punishment.
Address: 12 Pl. du Président Mithouard, 75007 Paris, France.
Hours:
Wednesday 7:45 AM–7:30 PM
Thursday 7:45 AM–7:30 PM
Friday 7:45 AM–7:30 PM
Saturday 8 AM–12:30 PM, 3–7:30 PM
Sunday 8 AM–12:30 PM, 3–7:30 PM
Monday 7:45 AM–7:30 PM
Tuesday 7:45 AM–7:30 PM
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