Description
The church of the Dominican friars (friars preachers) built in the 16th century, became a parish in 1803 under the name of Saint-Cannat, former bishop of Marseille.
The façade was designed by the Gérard brothers in the Roman style (1739 to 1744), in contrast to the late Gothic nave. The baptistery is located in the first chapel on the left. It is accessed through a gilded gate. It is dominated by a listed painting by Pierre Parrocel (18th century) depicting the Baptism of Christ.
In 1926, part of the facade was demolished, having been weakened by work on the Rue de la République. The church has been listed as a Monument Historique since November 1926, and was restored in 1936 by Merklin, Dunand and Chéron.
All that remains are 8 Doric columns and the 2 statues of Popes Pius V and Benedict XI lining the curved balustrade.
Since 2005, the Romanian Orthodox Parish of the Three Holy Hierarchs has celebrated the Holy Liturgy and all sacraments here on Sunday mornings.
Also worth seeing: the polychrome marble high altar (1755) by Fossati and paintings by Serre, Reisson and Faudran. 17th-century pulpit. Parish priest: Xavier Autonès.
The 1747 Isnard organ case is a two-part case. The instrumental part, originally by Isnard, was restored by Borme. Several restorations were necessary after the French Revolution: by Génoyer and Blondeau. In 1936, Merklin, Dunand and Chéron carried out a major recomposition. The buffet is listed as a historic monument.