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After nearly six years, Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral held its grand reopening over the weekend, complete with two ceremonies to mark the occasion. The cathedral fell victim to a fire in April of 2019, and at the time, it seemed the 861-year-old building was a total loss. Thanks to much dedication and many donations, Notre Dame has risen from the ashes. Here's everything you need to know about Notre Dame's reopening.
The Backstory
On April 15, 2019, millions of viewers watched the beloved Notre Dame Cathedral go up in flames on national news. Onlookers were shocked as its 256-year-old spire came crashing down. The roof structure, made of 400-year-old oak trees, was also destroyed in the incident. After an investigation, the fire was said to be caused by a flicked cigarette or an electrical issue.
The Opening Ceremonies
The Notre Dame Cathedral held two ceremonies to commemorate its reopening. The events kicked off December 7, when the Archbishop of Paris used his staff to bang on the cathedral's doors (per Notre Dame De Paris). The church erupted in song, playing Psalm 121 three times before opening. The Archbishop then blessed the organ, which responded eight times, before "chanting the office." In the Catholic religion, "chanting the office" refers to the reciting of prayers and hymns. At the end, he blessed the cathedral once more and sang Te Deum, a song typically sang during special events.
On Sunday, December 8, the first mass was held. It featured not only the Archbishop of Paris, but bishops from all over the country and world. Also participating were seven priests, one from each of the Eastern Catholic Churches. The ceremony included a homage to five historical figures from the church's history, a prayer, an oil anointment, and the lighting of incense.
The Octave of the Reopening
According to Notre Dame De Paris, the reopening celebrations will span from December 8 to 15. During this time, everybody in attendance will require a free reservation or invitation. On December 12, the cathedral will host the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and on December 13, the Crown of Thorns believed to be worn by Jesus Christ himself will be making its return. It's one of the main reasons why the Notre Dame Cathedral is important. After this eight day period concludes, the cathedral will reopen to the public and tourists around the world.
What to Expect
In a lot of ways, Notre Dame Cathedral was rebuilt just how it was, but there are some aspects that changed. The beloved spire is now adorned with a rooster/golden phoenix mix, symbolizing the cathedral's rise from the ashes. It was previously topped with a rooster alone. Impressively, the framing, nave, and choir were built back identically. To prevent another future episode, construction crews have also installed misters to dispense water.
The story of the Notre Dame Cathedral just goes to show you that with enough dedication, anything is possible. Now that the restoration is complete, the Gothic-style church will be a fixture of Paris's skyline for many more years to come.
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