Hidden away in a quiet courtyard in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, stands a unique and unassuming building – the Eglise Orthodoxe Saint-Séraphin de Sarov. This charming wooden church with its blue dome is a testament to the enduring faith of a community of Russian émigrés in the French capital.
The church was consecrated in 1933. It was financed by small donations from the Russian émigrés who had fled the Russian Revolution and found a new home in this bustling Parisian district. Many of these émigrés worked in nearby factories. The church is dedicated to Saint Seraphim of Sarov, a very revered saint in Russia who was canonized in 1903.
The original wooden structure was erected in the 1930s, but was rebuilt in 1974 on the same location because it became too small for the growing community. Notably, two maple trees, one of which is still alive, were incorporated into the interior of the church during its construction. These trees symbolize the resilience and growth of the Russian community in Paris.
The Eglise Orthodoxe Saint-Séraphin de Sarov boasts a beautiful interior adorned with ornate gold-gilt iconography, a hallmark of Russian Orthodox churches. Some of these works of art were created by renowned artists like Jeanne Reitlinger and Mère Marie Skobtsova.
Despite its humble exterior, the church stands as a beacon of faith for the Russian community in Paris and it is also a reminder of the enduring spirit of the Russian diaspora. If you are in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, be sure to seek out this hidden gem.