St-Madeleine-Church-at-Troyes 7.10.1967

The stamp shows a Stained-glass-window-of-St-Madeleine-Church-at-Troyes.

From the outside, this church is not imposing. But when you enter, you will see straight ahead why it is well worth a visit. Ste-Madeleine holds one of the last intact rood screen in the world and it is stunning. Rood screens, which the Catholic Church began removing in the 17th century, were elaborate iron, wood or marble constructions designed to separate the sanctuary from the nave visually and physically. The idea was that the altar was too sacred to allow common people to approach it. As a result of the Catholic Counter-Reformation, this concept fell into well-deserved disfavor. Unfortunately, instead of just removing these wonders and putting them somewhere else, most all of them were just destroyed by being parceled out for the sculptures, metals, whatever. The Crucifixes at the top of the screens, however, were usually reinstalled behind or above the altars. The rood screen at Ste-Madeleine is just about the height of late Medieval or early Renaissance art.
Thank you Merja for this nice cover.