Notre Dame Cathedral, following its highly anticipated reopening, welcomed attendees for an emotional Easter ceremony centered on the venerated relic, the Crown of Thorns. This sacred event, held during Holy Week, featured a solemn procession, liturgical chants, and candlelight, capturing the reverence of the occasion. The Crown of Thorns, a circular band of branches encased in a golden tube, is one of Christianity’s most esteemed relics and was carried reverently by clerics through the cathedral’s aisles.
Tourists formed long lines stretching across the Seine, eager to enter the beautifully renovated Gothic landmark. Inside, ushers gently managed the separation between curious visitors and the faithful gathered for worship. The cathedral’s rector noted the overwhelming turnout, with visitor numbers exceeding expectations. Before the 2019 fire, Notre Dame saw around 20,000 pilgrims daily, a number that has now risen to approximately 30,000, reflecting the renewed joy and connection people experience when rediscovering the iconic structure.
Among the worshippers was a Paris native who has attended Easter Mass at Notre Dame since childhood. She expressed frustration with tourists taking photos during the sacred ceremony, emphasizing the importance of the moment. After ushers intervened, she continued to absorb the ceremony and the renewed beauty of the cathedral, feeling a restored connection that had been missing for so long.
Visitors from afar, including a family who traveled from Poitiers in central France, shared their excitement at finally attending the Mass. The cathedral’s reopening in December saw record attendance, with over 3.5 million visitors in the first month alone. Although attendance numbers are impressive, officials emphasize the importance of the cathedral’s revival over setting records, cherishing the return to life of such a historic monument.
For many, the day’s celebration represented not only an expression of faith but also a profound sense of reconnection. A couple visiting from Poland planned their trip to coincide with this momentous occasion, reflecting on their previous visit a decade ago and the heartbreak they felt during the fire. Their return to a revived Notre Dame for worship holds even greater significance, embodying resilience and spiritual renewal.
The devastating fire on April 15, 2019, led to the cathedral’s closure, initiating a five-year renovation process. Notre Dame reopened in December 2024, marking a significant milestone with a grand ceremony attended by global leaders, celebrating the restoration of this iconic symbol of faith and history.
