Église de la Résurrection du Christ

Did the Baron Haussmann, known for reshaping Paris, also have a hand in building churches? He did indeed. Right here, before the Église de la Résurrection du Christ, stands a testament to his vision. This church, also known as the Église luthérienne de la Résurrection de Paris, wasn’t always a Russian Orthodox sanctuary. Its story begins in 1866 in the then-working-class district of Vaugirard. Baron Haussmann, a Lutheran himself, commissioned the construction of this church and two adjacent elementary schools. Imagine the scene on its inauguration day. The year was 1867. The renowned architect Victor Baltard, another Protestant, was present, alongside Pastor Louis Meyer, who consecrated the Église de la Résurrection du Christ. Pastor Mettetal then delivered the first sermon within these newly hallowed walls. The church’s neo-Romanesque facade, designed by Eugène Godeboeuf, features a symbolic open Bible above the portal. The left page reads “La Sainte Bible,” and the right, “La parole de Dieu demeure éternellement.” This quote, taken from 1 Peter 1:25, rests upon a martyr’s palm and is crowned by a six-pointed star. Inside, the original Aristide Cavaillé-Coll organ, installed in 1867, still resonates today. This mechanical marvel, with its two 54-note keyboards and 30-note pedalboard, boasts eleven distinct jeux. The Église de la Résurrection du Christ witnessed growth with the influx of Alsatian refugees following the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. The adjacent schools also played a vital role in the community. By 1926, they housed 200 students learning various crafts. Later, the city of Paris granted the school buildings to the Léonard Rosenthal Foundation, who established the École Rachel, a technical school for girls. This institution eventually gave way to the Lycée d’enseignement professionnel Brassai, which shares the building to this day. Now, the Église de la Résurrection du Christ serves the Russian Orthodox community, a testament to the ever-evolving tapestry of Parisian life.