The Saint-Étienne-du-Mont Church is a Gothic sanctuary located at Place Sainte-Geneviève next to the Panthéon in the 5th arrondissement.
Built between 1492 and 1626, the sanctuary was intended to accommodate the growth of the neighboring abbey of St. Geneviève and the parish of St. Étienne. The impressive façade is made up of three superimposed Renaissance pediments flanked by the soaring belfry from the 16th century.
In particular the rood screen (jubé, probably by Pierre Beaucorps in 1530) crossing the nave like a bridge with spiral staircases on either side is an unique feature of the church, being the only rood screen which survived in Paris.
Most of the church’s stained-glass windows date between the 16th and 17th centuries and those from the ambulatory and chancel are of note.
Saint-Étienne-du-Mont houses the shrine of Sainte-Geneviève, Paris’ Patron Saint, and the remains of French writers Racine and Pascal.
A parishioner, Blessed Antoine-Frédéric Ozanam, started the Society of St Vincent de Paul in 1833. “Hence Ozanam Inn, right here in New Orleans and our own, very active, Society of St. Vincent de Paul at Good Shepherd Parish.” PAS
The organ case of Saint Etienne du Mont dates from 1633 and was built by Jean Buron. It is a masterpiece and perhaps the most beautiful organ case in Paris and the oldest case which is preserved completely.
