Notre Dame will open soon: Important information about the reopening

Notre Dame will open soon: Important information about the reopening

Notre Dame, the treasured Gothic jewel in Paris that went down in flames in 2019, will officially reopen on Saturday. Immediately after the fire, French President Emmanuel Macron made an ambitious promise to restore the cathedral within five years. On Friday, he praised the hundreds of tradesmen, carpenters and other specialists who helped him keep that promise as he made his final visit to the site.

The Restoration of Notre Dame: A National Pride Project

"You did it. And it is an immense source of pride for the entire nation. I am infinitely grateful to you, France is infinitely grateful," Macron said. Here's everything you need to know about the days ahead.

What happened so far?

On April 15, 2019, Notre Dame was engulfed by a devastating fire. The cause of the fire remains a mystery. Investigators believe it was likely an accident, possibly caused by a lit cigarette or an electrical fault. France - and much of the world - was in mourning as the 860-year-old Cathedrale roof collapsed, covering the stone floor beneath with soot. Macron called it a “terrible tragedy” and vowed to rebuild the historic landmark “because our history deserves it.”

Millions for restoration

Some of the country's wealthiest businessmen have pledged hundreds of millions of euros for the restoration. After more than 2,000 days of work - involving a team of 2,000 people, 2,000 oak trees and 2,000 restored or rebuilt elements - the world got its first look at "Our Lady of Paris" last week when the French president visited the restored landmark along with his wife Brigitte and a group of clergy.

Reopening celebrations

The official reopening begins with a ceremony on Saturday, followed by eight days of special masses and prayers. The guest list will be long and illustrious, but the most prominent attendee will be Donald Trump. The US president-elect announced this week that he would travel to Paris - his first trip abroad since last month's election - for what was billed as "a very special day for everyone". The ceremony is expected to attract around 50 heads of state and government.

The big day: What happens on Saturday?

Macron will deliver a speech outside the cathedral on Saturday around 6 p.m. (12 p.m. ET). The Archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich, will then hit the closed doors of the cathedral with his staff. As soon as the doors are opened, the cathedral “answers” ​​the knock by singing Psalm 121 – which begins, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains” – three times. The doors will then be opened.

The first trade fairs after the reopening

The ceremony takes place in three parts. First, the “awakening” of the great organ – the largest in France with 8,000 pipes and 115 registers. Second, the “Singing of the Office” – a series of psalms and prayers, including the Lord’s Prayer. Finally, the archbishop will give a final blessing and the choir will sing Te Deum, a Latin hymn. The service will be accompanied by a report from French television documenting the reconstruction of the cathedral.

When does the first trade fair take place?

The first mass will take place on Sunday morning around 10:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m. ET), with Macron in attendance. After blessing the holy water, the archbishop will sprinkle it over the congregation and then over the altar. The biblical readings during the Mass will be the same worldwide and will mark the second Sunday of Advent. A second mass will be held on Sunday evening and is open to the public.

And then?

In the eight days following reopening, two masses will be held daily as well as special evening ceremonies. Many of these services will be open to the public. On December 17th and 18th, the cathedral will host concerts of Johann Sebastian Bach's “Magnificat.” The cathedral expects to welcome up to 15 million visitors annually. At the moment the visit remains free. Guests can book a free ticket online and enter the building either the same day or one to two days after booking.