Skit du Saint-Esprit, Orthodox monastery in Le Mesnil-Saint-Denis, France
The Skit du Saint-Esprit is an Orthodox monastery set within a forest near Paris, comprising three churches in Byzantine style. The buildings are marked by green domes and blue bulbs and are scattered across the woodland landscape of the Bois de Fay.
The monastery was established in 1938 when a priest purchased land to create a place of contemplation away from Paris. Its founding emerged from a desire to develop a refuge for the Orthodox community in France.
The name refers to the Holy Spirit and reflects the spiritual focus of the community here. The interior spaces are adorned with frescoes and icons that shape daily life and invite visitors to experience Orthodox visual tradition firsthand.
The monastery remains active and visitors can arrange guided tours through the Le Mesnil-Saint-Denis Tourist Office. The best time to visit is outside of regular liturgical services to allow for an unhurried tour of the grounds.
The grounds contain several isolated hermit cells where monks can live according to a contemplative way of life. This physical separation of the cells allows the community to live in silence and reflection while remaining connected.
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