On Dec. 8 the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is set to initially reopen after a devastating fire ravaged the building in April of 2019.
"About 40 recently ordained priests have never had the opportunity to celebrate or attend a celebration in our cathedral," says Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich to Catholic News Agency. "That day will certainly be memorable. It will be a day of profound joy for Paris, France, and the world. Notre Dame is also a reference point for those passing through the Archdiocese of Paris. Everyone knows Notre Dame; even foreigners are very fond of it."
The fire that investigators say started on accident burned through most of the cathedral roof and destroyed the spire as firefighters tried to tame the flames on April 15, 2019.
The cathedral bells were rung for the first time since the fire during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics held in Paris this summer. During the spectacle, performers covered the scaffolds set up outside of Notre Dame and performed elaborate dance sequences.
The magnificent Rose Window of the newly restored Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris. pic.twitter.com/t0DXInMQNA
— Catholic Sat (@CatholicSat) November 29, 2024
A grand ceremony will take place on Dec. 8 with an inauguration Mass being held inside for invited guests. During this time the great organ will be revived, and the office of the Maîtrise de Notre Dame will be sung by the choir led by Henry Chalet, culminating with the Magnificat. Roughly 170 bishops from around the world, as well as a priest from each of the 106 parishes of the Diocese of Paris and a priest from each of the seven Eastern-rite Catholic Churches.
Notre Dame was first erected 860 years ago. It became a beacon of hope especially after the celebration held at Notre Dame to give thanks for the liberation of Paris in 1944 and for the end of the war in May 1945.
According to news sources, it took 250 companies and hundreds of experts to participate in the five-year restoration project, which cost hundreds of millions of euros.
"The Cathedral #NotreDame is a work that belongs to all Parisians, to all French people and to the whole world," Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said in a tweet. "I am in favour of an identical restoration."
While the inside is restored, the outside of the cathedral isn't expected to be fully renovated until 2026. After the inaugural mass, there will be eight days of special celebration with each day expressing a dedicated theme.