Medericus

Feastday: August 29
Death: 700

St. Medericus died in 700. Born in Autun, France, he entered St. Martin's monastery at thirteen and later was its abbot. He was a recluse in his last years. He is also called Merry. His feast day is August 29th.

The Church of Saint-Merri (French: Église Saint-Merri) is a parish church in Paris, located along the busy street Rue Saint Martin, on the Rive Droite (Right Bank). It is dedicated to the 8th century abbot of Autun Abbey, Saint Mederic, who came to Paris on pilgrimage and later died there in the year 700. In 884 Mederic, in French also spelled Merry, was acclaimed patron saint of the Right Bank.

History

The present church was built between 1500 and 1550. The style is 16th century Gothic, in the typical French style called flamboyant. The nave windows are work of the early 16th century, and the pulpit is by P. A. Slodtz and was made in 1753.

The organ was reconstructed in 1781 by Cliquot, a famous organ builder. It was played by Camille Saint-Saëns, who was organist of the church from 1853 to 1857. The bell tower contains the oldest bell in Paris, cast in 1331, which survived the French Revolution. In 1832, the church was an arena of ardent barricade fighting during a republican uprising against the July Monarchy.

The church continues as a place of worship today, and is home to the Halles-Beaubourg Pastoral Centre, being also the home to the Académie vocale de Paris, which performs concerts in the church every Saturday throughout the year.