Saint-Esprit is a Catholic church in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, France, in the southeast of the city. History The population in the neighbourhood in the eastern part of the 12th arrondissement had been growing since 1860, creating a need for a large church. The triangular parcel of land the church now occupies between avenue Daumesnil and rue Claude Decaen was purchased in 1927 by the Archbishop, Cardinal Dubois, and his auxiliary Mgr Crépin. The Église du Saint-Esprit was built between 1928 and 1935. The crypt was inaugurated in 1929 and served as a chapel while the upper part of the church was being built. The work progressed slowly due to lack of funding. When Cardinal Dubois died in 1929, he was replaced by Bishop Verdier, who resumed construction in 1932. His bust is above the main door. The interior decor of the church was protected as a monument historique by the Ministry of Culture on 17 August 1979. The entire edifice was designated a historical monument in 1992. Architecture The architecture of the church—with its juxtaposition of Byzantine influence and reinforced concrete—is 'absolutely unique.' The architect, Paul Tournon, designed and built the church, following a plan inspired by that of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. The church has a huge dome — in diameter with a summit at above ground level. The use of reinforced concrete for the vertical supports and the dome was a major technical feat at the time of construction. The dome was designed to allow light to enter through the row of openings at its base. Nevertheless, some experts contend that the darkness of the interior interferes with the appreciation of the rich interior décor. The reinforced concrete of the exterior has a facing of red bricks from Burgundy. Interior The interior was elaborately decorated (frescoes, mosaics, sculptures and stained glass windows) by the artists of the Ateliers d'Art Sacré, an association of Catholic artists dedicated to creating art in the service of God. The interior is generally dark, giving the church its unique atmosphere. The decoration illustrates the history of the 'church militant' and of the 'church triumphant' from the Pentecost to the 20th century. One of its main themes is the influence of the Holy Spirit on human history. The frescoes are organised chronologically into 7 periods: 1. the Pentecost, including the intercession of the Virgin Mary and the descent of the Holy