Our Chartres labyrinth project

"The labyrinth literally reintroduces the experience of walking a clearly defined path. This reminds us that there is a path, a process that brings us to unity, to the centre of our beings. In the simple act of walking, the soul finds solace and peace."
- Lauren Artress

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As part of our holy work, we are building a exact-scale replica of the Chartres labyrinth. 

The history of the Chartres labyrinth

The Chartres labyrinth was desired by the Chapter of Our Lady of Chartres. Around 1200, the college of priests began construction on the cathedral. The labyrinth visually expresses the essential symbolism that Chartres wishes to preserve today:

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The challenge of the labyrinth is to gradually open oneself to Christ before proceeding to the altar, the love that Christ gave and a desire to overcome all personal difficulties. To progress, you must reconsider your sins, abandon them, and seek forgiveness.

The goal is to contemplate death and eternal life with Christ.
The most recent discoveries indicate that the labyrinth was originally designed for the liturgy of Easter Vespers, a church celebration commemorating Christ's victory over death.

Everyone is welcome to seek silence and peace through labyrinth meditation. Chartres welcomes visitors who are willing to consider their entire lives—to live by this journey for the rest of their lives.
The Chartres labyrinth is reminiscent of Greek mythology. The Greek labyrinth was built by the architect Daedalus to destroy the Minotaur, a monster that ate the children of Athens. Theseus defeated the monster, and he was successful thanks to Ariadne's thread.

Several labyrinths were built on the pavements of religious buildings during the Middle Ages: Reims, Amiens, and Saint-Quentin. They also appeared as a signature of their sponsors and project managers (whose names were displayed on a central plaque).

The labyrinth is a path, inviting you to go on a "pilgrimage." The people who walk this path, praying and experiencing the grace of the moment, are what give it its energy. The end result? Walking mindfully with authentic meditation allows your body and soul to merge.

This revelation can only be discovered while walking this path step by step, not afterwards or around it. People can be confident in their reconciliation because the path evokes meditation on human existence—long, fluctuating, and challenging. A sense of existence can also be found; it is, of course, different for everyone. 
 
For more information on the Chatres labyrinth, you can go to: https://www.cathedrale-chartres.org/en/cathedrale/monument/the-labyrinth/