Taizé Community, Ecumenical monastery in Saône-et-Loire, France
Taizé Community is an ecumenical monastic order in Saône-et-Loire, France, where about one hundred brothers from Catholic and Protestant traditions live together. The site includes the Church of Reconciliation, simple dormitories for visitors, and communal spaces where young people from around the world gather for prayer, Bible discussions, and shared work.
Brother Roger founded the community in 1940 in a small farmhouse to shelter refugees during World War II. In 1962, the Church of Reconciliation was built by German youth as a sign of peace after the war.
The community organizes three daily prayers in the Church of Reconciliation, where visitors sit on the floor and listen to simple chants sung in many languages. After each prayer, young people from all continents often remain in the half-light of the church to stay in silence or speak quietly with one another.
Young adults between 17 and 35 years old can join weekly gatherings throughout the year and stay in simple dormitories. It is advisable to bring warm clothing and a flashlight, as the pathways are unlit in the evening and the accommodations are basic.
The chants from Taizé are now sung in churches and communities worldwide and have spread far beyond the hills of Burgundy. The melodies are intentionally simple so visitors can join in after just a few repetitions without needing to read music.
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