The old square choir is intersected by the great organ, as at Albi. The decoration of the Great Choir dates from 1760. The marble balustrade (_see p. 44_) is a copy of that in the Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris, and replaced the old lateral walls and rood-loft. The gilded canopy, which is a transformation of the antique ciborium of the Gallo-Roman churches, is supported by four twisted columns of grey marble. It is a copy of that of St. Peter’s at Rome. Behind it are eighty-six stalls in two superposed rows, and carved panelling (_see p. 46_). [Illustration: THE CIBORIUM (The Ciborium was the canopy supported by columns which covered the altars in the early Christian basilicas.)] [Illustration: THE STALLS AND WOODWORK OF THE GREAT CHOIR] =Stalls and Woodwork of the Great Choir.=—Classed as an historical monument in 1905, this Rococo-style woodwork by Lacour of Toul is remarkable for its somewhat secular elegance and fine finish. During the bombardment of Verdun in 1916–1918 it was taken down and put in a place of safety. [Illustration: THE SHRINE OF ST. SAINTIN Photographed with the woodwork of the Great Choir at the Exhibition of the Evacuated Art Treasures held in Paris] =St. Saintin’s Shrine.=—This 14th-century shrine contains the relics of the first bishop of Verdun, and is said to represent the ancient church of the Premonstrants of St. Paul. [Illustration] The South Aisle and Holy Sacrament Chapel The numerous collateral chapels are 14th, 15th and 16th century. The most interesting is that of the Holy Sacrament. It was finished in 1402, and is Radial-Gothic in style. In the neighbouring transept there was formerly a “puits” (well), which offended Louis XIV. when he visited the Cathedral in 1687. The Chapter had it filled up and covered with a stone, on which was carved the letter “P.” The Chapel of the Virgin contains an interesting mutilated monument to Archdeacon Wassebourg, carved in the 16th century to perpetuate the true image of Our Lady of Verdun seated and crowned. [Illustration: MONUMENT TO ARCHDEACON WASSEBOURG. CHAPEL OF THE VIRGIN] [Illustration: UPPER PORTION OF DOOR IN OLD ROMAN APSE, REMOVED TO THE VESTRY.] [Illustration: ROMAN CAPITAL OF THE GREAT CRYPT FILLED IN IN 1755, EXCEPT TWO BAYS DECORATED WITH PAINTINGS.] [Illustration: THE LAST JUDGMENT. PAINTING ON THE VAULT OF THE CRYPT.] _Enter the courtyard of the Bishop’s Palace by the door of the Margueritte College (see p. 43). The Seminary seen in the background of the photo has been completely destroyed since 1916. The door with steps in front led formerly to a staircase descending to the Cloister. In May, 1919, this staircase was easily accessible, in spite of the débris all around._ [Illustration: COURTYARD OF THE BISHOP’S PALACE AND THE CATHEDRAL IN 1916] The Bishop’s Palace