Crowds filled France’s Notre-Dame Cathedral for the first time in almost five years, holding mass for the first time on Sunday after a devastating fire broke out in 2019.
The first Mass was a “moment that transcended religious significance and became a powerful symbol of Paris’ resilience,” the Associated Press reported.
The ceremony took place inside the cathedral, topped by traditional chandeliers and displaying stunning stonework, restored limestone, and stained glass windows.
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The liturgy was attended by 2,500 people led by Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, including French President Emmanuel Macron, other clergy, dignitaries and lucky ordinary people who were waiting in line to get in, AP said. The news agency reported.
Guests attended Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral for the first time since the devastating fire in 2019. (Sarah Maysonier/Pool Photo via AP)
The newspaper added: “Nearly 170 bishops from France and around the world participated, and one priest from each of the 113 parishes of the Diocese of Paris, accompanied by worshipers from these communities.”
Those attending the service, with the exception of Macron, took part in communion, and many knelt in the space to pray.
Other participants took photos of the rebuilt interior, which also included a new bronze altar that was consecrated by the archbishop with holy water, Christmas oil, incense and prayers during the service.
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Sunday’s Mass followed the cathedral’s opening ceremony on Saturday, which was attended by President-elect Donald Trump, First Lady Jill Biden, Prince William and other celebrities.
The priest and clergy arrived for the first Mass, and the archbishop consecrated the new bronze altar. (AP)
President Joe Biden was unable to attend the ceremony due to scheduling conflicts, Fox 5 New York reported.
For the historic reopening, the archbishop “symbolically reopened the cathedral by rapping three times on the cathedral’s massive wooden doors with a clothier made from charred beams salvaged from the fire,” the Associated Press reported.
“As the doors opened, a choir filled the air with song, and the cathedral’s great organ, which had been silent since the fire, sounded its solemn melody.”
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As the cathedral opens its doors for Notre Dame’s “first fully public Mass” for those who were unable to attend Sunday Mass, members of the public, even those who have traveled all the way to Paris, was able to secure a reservation, the Associated Press reported.
“The Associated Press learned that tickets for this service were claimed within 25 minutes, underscoring Notre Dame’s enduring appeal.”
Archbishop Laurent Ulrich led the liturgy and Eucharist at the inaugural Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral on Sunday. (Sarah Maysonier/Pool Photo via AP)
Others in Paris watched the historic day along the Seine River, with hundreds of passersby gathering and the general viewing area capable of holding 40,000 people, Fox 5 reported.
The reopening of the cathedral is being called a “rebirth.”
“No one alive has ever seen a cathedral like this,” the rector of Notre Dame, the Rev. Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, told The Associated Press. “It’s not just restored, it’s reborn.”
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The celebration of the reopening of the church does not end with Mass.
Guests from around the world attended Notre Dame Cathedral’s inaugural Mass, the first held at the cathedral since 2019. (Sarah Maysonier/Pool Photo via AP)
The archbishop announced that the celebration of the Octave, an eight-day religious ceremony, will continue until December 15th.
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These daily services are open to local parishioners and pilgrims from all over the world.
The Associated Press wrote, “Sunday Mass highlights Notre Dame’s dual role as a place of worship and a symbol of community resilience.”
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“It will also ensure that members of the wider Catholic community can participate in the cathedral’s spiritual revival.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
