The Basilica of Saint Remigius in Reims is one of the shrines of France, and Remigius himself is called the "Apostle of the Franks". Saint Remigius was Archbishop of Reims and baptised king Clovis I of the Merovingian dynasty. Clovis united the disparate tribes and created a single Kingdom of the Franks. Later modern France appeared on this site.
Saint Remigius was born in 437 in the city of Laon in northern France. These were years of constant wars between the Frankish tribes with each other. All this ravaged the land. Most of the tribes professed pagan religion or Arianism. Saint Remigius was able to persuade Clotilde of Burgundy (Clovis` wife) to convert to Christianity, and together they persuaded Clovis himself to be baptized. All this helped to unite the lands of the Franks.
Saint Remigius died in 533, at the age of 96 in Reims. He was buried in the chapel of Saint Christopher in the cemetery outside the city walls of Reims. A Benedictine monastery was founded on the site of the grave of Saint Remigius in 760. On October 1, 852, the relics of Saint Remigius were transferred to the altar of the small Cathedral in the Abbey. Since then, October 1 has become Saint Remigius` memorial day.
The Basilica of Saint Remigius, which has been preserved to this day, was founded in 1007. The original design of the Basilica in the Romanesque architectural style provided for the construction of huge vaults. There were not enough funds for this, but the constructed Basilica is impressive. It was consecrated on 1 October 1049 by Pope Leo IX. The consecration ceremony was attended by many guests who came to Reims for the Ecumenical Council.
The relics of Saint Remigius were located in the altar of the Romanesque Basilica of Saint Remigius, but its construction was very cramped. In the 12th century, the altar was significantly expanded. At that time, the architecture was already dominated by the Gothic style, so the altar of the Basilica of St. Remigius is made in the Gothic style. In general, the Church has retained its Romanesque features.
In 1896, on the 1400th anniversary of the coronation of Clovis I, a chandelier with 96 candles was installed in the Basilica of Saint Remigius, symbolizing the 96 years of this Saint`s life. Sometimes this chandelier is called the "Crown of light". There was also a Holy Ampoule with myrrh, which was used to baptize Clovis. It was broken during the French great revolution as a symbol that there would be no more kings in France. Now the fragments of the Holy Ampoule are stored in the Palace of Tau.
The main Shrine of the Basilica is the Tomb of Saint Remigius. It was destroyed during the French Revolution, but it was restored. A large crypt decorated with Renaissance sculptures is placed over the grave. In the Basilica there are burials of kings of France from the Carolingian dynasty. In some places, the Cathedral still has stained glass windows from the 12th century. The rose window on the facade was made in the 20th century.
