Crown of Thorns Relic Returns to Notre-Dame Cathedral Post-Fire

An ancient relic, believed by some to have been worn by Jesus Christ during his crucifixion, has been brought back to Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. This return occurs five years after the relic was rescued from a destructive fire that severely damaged the cathedral. The Crown of Thorns, which consists of a circle of rushes enclosed within a crystal and gold tube, was returned to the recently restored cathedral during a ceremony. This event was presided over by Laurent Ulrich, the Archbishop of Paris. King Louis IX of France obtained the crown in Constantinople in 1239. Its cost was 135,000 livres, an amount that represented almost half of France’s yearly expenditure during that period. After initially being housed at the Sainte-Chapelle, it was relocated to Notre-Dame’s treasury in 1806, staying there until the fire that extensively damaged the 850-year-old structure. Emergency responders, including firefighters and police officers, created a human chain to save the relic along with other historical artifacts present in the cathedral. The blaze consumed the wooden interiors and the spire of the cathedral. The crown, having been stored at the Louvre Museum for a period while the renowned cathedral underwent significant renovation, has now been placed into a newly constructed reliquary, replacing the original one from 1806. A procession, which included members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre—a Catholic order of knighthood—led the ceremony commemorating its return. French media outlets indicate that the Crown of Thorns will be available for public viewing starting 10 January. Biblical accounts state that Jesus’s captors utilized the Crown of Thorns to inflict suffering upon him and ridicule his asserted authority. On 8 December, the cathedral once again welcomed the public, following comprehensive restoration efforts. These works reportedly cost €700m (£582m) and engaged an estimated 2,000 professionals, including masons, carpenters, restorers, roofers, foundry-workers, art experts, sculptors, and engineers. The reopening ceremony saw attendance from world leaders. During a speech at the occasion, French President Emmanuel Macron commented on the restoration, stating: “We must treasure this lesson of fragility, humility and will.” This content is copyrighted by BBC, 2024. All rights are reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for material on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.