Our first day was too busy, we met in front of the St. Michael fountain and took a Free Paris Walking Tour with Thomas and his daughter.
We walked across the Seine River and viewed the Notre Dame reconstruction. It is supposed to be open to the public by 2024. Very interesting that the French government promotes atheism and most people in France aren’t religious. I suppose Notre Dame more about tourism dollars than religion.
Thomas told us a lot about French history, even though he was from England. During the time of Christ, the area of France (called Gaul) was part of the Roman empire. Christians arrived early in the 1st century and grew rapidly—about 10,000 by the end of the century. By 150 A.D., there were 40,000, and over 200,000 by the end of the 2nd century.
In 177 A.D., about 50 Christians were arrested, tortured, and martyred in Lyons the Capital of Gaul. St. Irenaeus, a disciple of St. Polycarp, who was taught by St. John the apostle, arrived in Lyons after the massacre and became Bishop. He was martyred around 202 A.D. There was also St. Denis, Bishop of Paris, who was martyred sometime between 251 and 258 A.D. He could walk around carrying his head in his hands (more about him later). France became Christian when King Clovis I (the first King of France) converted to Christianity around 500 A.D.
After the walking tour, we wandered around Paris and stumbled upon a Church called St. Merri (unrelated to hobbits) which was just finishing up adoration and beginning Mass in Polish. Rebecca insists on visiting every Church we pass by.
The Church has been here since the 9th century, and then rebuilt in the 13th and 16th centuries. It’s named after St. Medericus, patron saint of the Right Bank of the Seine River (don’t know if there’s a left bank patron). He was a Holy Hermit born sometime before this Church was built.
We finished the day eating, drinking, and listening to music at a Jazz bar listening to a tribute to Nat King Cole. We were so exhausted that we had to abandon our visit to Lisieux the following day.