Notre-Dame Cathedral re-opened its doors to the public on December 7, five years after a fire severely damaged it in 2019.
Archbishop Laurent Ulrich did the honors of reopening the Cathedral’s grand wooden doors by tapping them with a staff made from the beam of the roof that survived the fire.
Outside the cathedral’s doors, Ulrich raised his crosier and said, “Brothers and sisters, let us enter now into Notre Dame. It is she who accompanies us on our path to peace.”
The re-opening ceremony was attended by 1500 dignitaries including notable personalities like French President Emmanuel Macron, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, First Lady of the U.S., Jill Biden, Britain’s Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The Gothic structure has been a place of faith, inspiration, and peace for more than 860 years. According to the official website of the cathedral church, it will welcome visitors again from December 8 to 15, 2024, for an "octave of reopening".
Following the fire in April 2019, the Notre-Dame Cathedral received donations from around the globe, amounting to a total of nearly $1 billion.
How can we make reservations at the Notre-Dame Cathedral?
If you wish to visit the Cathedral, the reservation for facilitated access has already begun from Dec 7. To avoid the hassle at the entrance you can secure your spot online a few hours or a few days before you visit the Cathedral. Just go to the ‘Reservation’ page on the official website. You can locate it in the ‘Practical Information’ category on the ‘Visit’ tab. The entry will commence at 3:30 PM on December 9.
The Church will begin its regular schedule starting December 16. The timings will be from 7:45 AM to 7:00 PM.
How to make donations at the Cathedral?
If you are planning to donate, you can visit the Notre-Dame De Paris website. Scroll down to the bottom of the home page and you will find an option to ‘Donate’. By clicking on it, you will be navigated to the donation page where you can donate your desired amount after completing the necessary details.
How to get Notre-Dame souvenirs?
You can buy unique Notre-Dame souvenirs from the Notre-Dame Boutique website, an online store that sells keychains, candles, rosaries, prayer cards, purses, and even soaps.
The website also has a special section dedicated to Christmas gifts including Christmas ornaments, holy figurines, and greeting cards among others.
What were the artifacts that survived the fire in 2019?
The devastating fire that damaged Notre-Dame Cathedral in April 2019, led to the loss of significant parts of the 19th-century masterpiece but many were saved by the firefighters.
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During the fire incident, they formed a human chain with the church officials to evacuate the most precious artifacts and religious treasures. It included a small piece of the Crown of Thorns supposedly worn by Jesus at the time of his crucifixion and the church’s spire.
According to the church's official website, the Holy Crown of Thorns will be restored to the Cathedral on December 13.
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