In brief
The ancient Crown of Thorns, an emblematic relic believed to have been worn by Jesus during his crucifixion, has triumphantly returned to Notre-Dame Cathedral during a ceremonial event led by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich. This comes five years after the treasure was valiantly rescued during a catastrophic fire that ravaged the iconic church.
After being saved from the flames in a coordinated effort by police and firefighters, the Crown of Thorns has been housed at the Louvre Museum while reconstruction of Notre-Dame was underway. The crown, originally acquired by King Louis IX in 1239, has been placed in a newly constructed reliquary, replacing the one separated from it since 1806.During the event marking the crown's return, members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher participated in a procession, underscoring the crown's religious significance. It has been announced that the Crown of Thorns will be available for public viewing starting January 10. Notre-Dame Cathedral, which saw extensive restorations costing around €700 million and employed approximately 2,000 craftspeople, officially reopened on December 8. The restoration ceremony attracted a host of global dignitaries, with French President Emmanuel Macron emphasizing the lessons of humility and fragility learned through the church’s journey of recovery.
