Is there actually an “Arc de Triomphe” in your church?

The comparison between triumphal arches and churches may seem unexpected. The famous Arc de Triomphe in Paris and Arch of Constantine in Rome (as also the lesser-known examples) are intended to glorify the victor of a military campaign or battle. Churches rarely focus on military exploits, except in the case of spiritual combat against the attacks of the devil, who seeks to seduce creatures into his rebellion against the Creator.

However, the architectural structure — two piers connected by a semicircular arch — is regularly found in religious buildings to mark the transition between the nave and the choir, between the space reserved for the faithful and the sacred space.

In Rome, the Basilica of St. Mary Major is a fine example of this, illustrating the transition from ancient pagan buildings to the beginnings of Christian places of worship. Although the terminology, origins, and strict definition of this term are debated among art historians, the term “triumphal arch” is often used to refer to this structure inside a church.

The use of this type of structure obviously meets a practical need: that of a structure allowing the passage from an often high nave to a lower and narrower apse, as was already the case in Roman civil basilicas. Many churches have some kind of triumphal arch, sometimes with a crossbeam supporting a crucifix. But in reality, it is much more symbolic than it appears.

What’s the primary meaning of a triumphal arch? Let's take the example of the most famous one in France, commissioned by Emperor Napoleon I to magnify his victories, or the ancient Roman examples in the Forum of the Eternal City. The arch is a monument built to glorify the victors. It must be said that the Romans, who were pagans, exalted war and considered a general's successes to be a blessing from the gods. They would then organize the famous triumph ceremony upon his return.

After his entry into the city of Rome, the glorious general paraded at the head of his armies, the vanquished, and the spoils, according to a highly symbolic protocol. They marched from the Via Triumphalis to the Via Sacra, in the heart of the Forum, to reach the Capitol and make sacrifices in the temple of Jupiter. To complete this solemn rite, an arch was sometimes erected with bas-reliefs commemorating military exploits. The arch and victory are therefore inseparable.

What victory do the triumphal arches of churches claim? That of Christ, of course! The victory of the Son of God over death through his resurrection. St. Paul himself, in his second letter to the Corinthians, compares the Paschal mystery to a triumph: "But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him. " (2 Cor 2:14)

Separating the nave from the choir by a triumphal arch is therefore very significant: from earth to heaven, the faithful are led by the Savior, and the Eucharist is precisely the realization of this salvific event.

Thus, the arches are often decorated with a majestic Christ in their center, surrounded by a crowd of saints or prophets, with Jerusalem and Bethlehem on the two piers to evoke the Incarnation and Redemption.

As for the apses, they often feature a representation of Paradise. This is very expressive in the Basilica of St. Clement in Rome, whose medieval mosaics are very well known. Also in Rome, St. Paul Outside the Walls certainly has one of the most beautiful triumphal arches, on which Christ of the Apocalypse takes his place. From now on, you'll have to keep your eyes open when you enter churches!