Wine, winemaking and the Church: stained glass look of Reims Cathedral

The cathedral, in general, – a house of God. Notre-Dame – Our Lady of the house. But the Cathedral of Reims, Notre Dame de Reims- , there is no where else but in the capital of Champagne, wine – and a little holy family make room. In any case, the stained glass windows that adorn the three lancet windows on the right side of the cathedral. Bible stories to them abundantly diluted very earthly scenes, and we are with you especially interesting – about wine and winemaking.

The sublime feeling that believers, in theory, should have in the temple, now in some way relate to the fantastic and the “light-bearing” images of winemakers – ordinary mortals, sealed the series (along?) With God and the Mother of God.

With this attitude to the whole French people, which is associated with wine – is it any wonder that France is still – the world center of winemaking, and the horizon of international brands of sparkling wines still burns brightest star of Champagne. The French do not just love their geniuses vine and wine press – they are praying for them. Against the background of how to relate to wine and wine-making here, is impressive.

After all, how did these stained glass windows? According to a famous French wine blogger Bertrand Celce , commissioned and funded by their guild wine Champagne. Neither the church nor the government did not prevent it. Are not you surprised? If not, imagine that our union-growers and winemakers Russia ordered to paint murals in Luzhkov’s Christ the Savior Cathedral. And it would have succeeded. – Almost unimaginable. We probably cut down the vine, in a blind madness combat “alcohol” rather than be allowed “filth” in the temple.

But if you’re not a fanatical advocate of temperance and “holiness”, the wine and the church for you – not so “two incompatible things.” Here we can remember and turn water into wine, Christ and the Last Supper with the bread and wine, and the contribution of medieval monks in the traditions of European winemaking, and the fact that the wine still appears in the church ritual sacrament. As one priest: “Jesus did not say: take this healthy camomile tea, and he watered the wine people.”