A Basilica is very much different from a Cathedral. Cathedrals are generally the center of a Catholic Dioces, whereas Basilicas are built for the sole purpose of commemorating a miraculous event that took place, or is taking place on the site of the building. For example, the Virgin Mary appeared at the Higüey Basilica and left a picture behind, and Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, houses the body of Saint Peter. The Basilica of the Sacre Coeur is no exception. The patron Saint of Paris is Denis, the bishop of Parisii who was beheaded by a martyr's sword on the top of this hill in 250 AD. Hence the name Montemartre. After his beheading, the body of Saint Denis picked up his head, washed it off in a nearby fountain, and walked down the hill for many miles, all the while delivering a sermon. The place where he finally died is now the location of The Basilica of Saint Denis, the Parisian version of Westminster Abbey, holding the remains of Marie Antoinette, Louis XVI and many French royals. Sacre Coeur is now standing in the spot where Denis was beheaded, atop the fountain that cleaned off his severed head. If that's not worth seeing, I don't know what is.
No comments:
Post a Comment