The longevity of awe…and the quietude buried within peace. These were the two thoughts echoing in my mind with the gentleness of passing a feather from one palm to the other while I was sitting in the Chartres Cathedral. We were in town for a wedding, a new beginning but I couldn’t stop thinking about the past.
I had sat in these pews years ago. Then, I was buoyed by the weight of the beauty surrounding me but this visit I realized that something far heavier was at play. How must the cathedral have loomed above the fields to the pilgrims that spied its spiers from afar, starting in the 12th century. It was the journey of a lifetime and the stories of its might travelled home with them, blessed. How many days had passed since then, light into dark again, shown and known by being lit from within. Nearly all of the windows were installed by 1240 and they still shine jewel-like, having been spared the ruthless bombing the town saw during World War II in 1939 when each pane of glass was wisely removed as the German troops advanced. These vitruax could inspire belief in God or other, definitely of something higher and better, in anyone. For awhile, I sat and watched each visitor as they would tilt their heads up and become still with the effort of trying to understand. And then I closed my eyes and listened to the whispers of shuffle and flow. I could have been there for years, a sigh on the timeline and a shadow of the efforts that had gone into creating such awe…such peace.
On the tympanum above the Royal entry, some wise bird has built his nest just above the statue of Christ’s head, a tilted halo to the holy. He understood, perfectly.
As I have mentioned previously, I am not a Christian but such sacred sites have and continue to inspire me, regardless of the faith housed within. Yes, faith remains and creates a bond, a link to life.
And while this is not a post of popsicles, it does seem appropriate for summer, a time of year when expansion is at its apogee…an expansion in all directions then, backwards and forwards, in and out with steady breath.
Wishing you a peaceful weekend ahead…
…and thank you for all of your kindness of late.
Janey, the gardens both in front and behind the cathedral were absolutely gorgeous. Very layered and carefully planned. Beautiful.
I am too. But that speaks to the universality of such spaces, doesn't it?
I agree with you entirely, Richard on all counts. We spent so much time within the cathedral and walking around Chartres afterwards that we didn't have time to sit at one of the restaurants for lunch (as we had previously) but rather grabbed sandwiches and sat on a bench–the view was that of the second to last photo. The sun came out at just that moment and it was just so beautiful to sit and take it all in. No one was around, just us and the stones…
Beautiful images and words. Thank you – warm regards
Lovely, quieting photographs of this incredible cathedral–they incarnate the cathedral far better than any of the photographs of it that I have seen in books and prints. It is such a privilege to see through your eyes and heart, Heather! Leslie in Oregon (off to Seattle for the weekend)
I especially enjoyed you including the white roses in one of those shots. Beautiful photos…as always…Janey
how very beautiful I especially love the image with the stone floor. I recently took our son Luca into a Church in Saluzzo and he was awe struck, we sat silently together in the back pews taking it all in. Just a lovely moment for us and I wasn't sure how he would take it, I'm not a church goer but love the feeling and was so impressed that my nine year old son felt that as well. xx
We visited Chartres last April on a very bright sunny day so the colors reflected on the columns and the floor were full spectrum rainbows. My very first visit was in 1969, and I visited there with my daughter in the late 90s. What I have always loved about visiting there is the feeling that you are back in time as the houses and streets around the cathedral are still the same. Having lunch, or tea sitting across the street is a unique experience. This past April's visit was more eye opening because so much of the cathedral has now been cleaned inside and out and the original golden hue of the stone really warms up the atmosphere. It is a truly moving experience walking through the aisles. (no pun intended)
And so long ago, Mr. Laoch. Have we truly progressed in architecture since then? Methinks not…
It always amazes me that people can make such beautiful buildings.