PARS.- A crucial fact in the restoration of the Cathedral of Our Lady In Paris it is planned for the next few hours with the installation of a golden rooster at the top of the spire.
It is a key step in the reconstruction of the monument after the devastating fire in April 2019. Designed by chief architect Philippe Villeneuve, the new rooster will replace the one that was irreparably destroyed by the flames.
The new rooster of Notre-Dame
The rooster, a French symbol of the vigilance and resurrection of Christ, will contain sacred relics inside, including fragments of Christ’s crown of thorns and remains of Saint Dionysius and Saint Genevieve, which give the sculpture religious importance. The crown of thorns, considered the most sacred relic of Notre-Dame, was among the treasures quickly rescued after the fire broke out. Brought to Paris by King Louis IX in the 13th century, it is considered to have been placed on the head of Christ during the crucifixion.
Before its placement, it will be blessed by the Archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich. A sealed tube inside the sculpture will contain a list of the names of nearly 2,000 people who contributed to the reconstruction.
President Emmanuel Macron, who visited the work last week to begin the one-year countdown to reopening, announced that the original rooster will be exhibited at the Htel-Dieu hospital. This move, and the plan to invite Pope Francis to the reopening next year, highlights the significance of Notre-Dame in French history and culture.
The installation of the rooster, which crowns a spire reconstructed with the design of Eugne Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century, recalls its medieval origins as a symbol of hope and faith.
Fire system
The Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris will also have a new fire protection system.
“All precautions were taken to completely rethink the fire protection of the cathedral, which will reopen to the public on December 8, 2024,” said Philippe Jost, who heads the public agency in charge of the reconstruction, on December 13.
“The cathedral will be able to receive 14 million visitors annually after its reopening, that is, twice as many as before the fire,” Jost added before the Cultural Affairs Commission of the National Assembly.
Jost explained that the new fire-fighting system will have a device that is being installed on the roof and spire, to put out any possible start of a fire, something new in French cathedrals.
FUENTE: Editorial with information from AP and AFP
