An historical relic that many Christians revere as Jesus Christ’s “Crown of Thorns” returned Friday to Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, 5 years after it was saved from the flames of the medieval monument’s devastating 2019 hearth. The AP reviews that the crown—a round band of branches encased in a gilded golden tube—was introduced again to its historic residence in a ceremony presided over by the archbishop of Paris and attended by knights and dames of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher, marking a key second within the cathedral’s restoration journey.
The relic was first talked about by Jerusalem pilgrims within the fifth century earlier than being transferred to Constantinople within the tenth century. In 1239, it was acquired by King Louis IX of France, who introduced it to Paris and housed it at Notre Dame earlier than commissioning the Sainte-Chapelle for its safekeeping. It was later returned to Notre Dame.
During the fireplace that consumed a lot of Notre Dame on April 15, 2019, the Crown of Thorns was preserved in a sealed case alongside different relics. Firefighters’ fast actions ensured the survival of these treasures. Starting Jan. 10, the Crown of Thorns might be displayed for public veneration each Friday till April 18, culminating on Good Friday. Afterward, it is going to be proven on the primary Friday of every month. (More Crown of Thorns tales.)
