PARIS — In an emotional and historical moment for Paris, Notre Dame Cathedral opened its doors for an extraordinary Easter service on Friday, just four months after its highly celebrated reopening. The event held particular significance as it featured the revered Crown of Thorns, encased in a golden tube, which is cherished as one of Christianity’s sacred relics.
During Holy Week, the cathedral hosted a solemn ritual filled with liturgical chants, candlelight, and a moving procession where clerics carefully carried the sacred Crown of Thorns through the historic aisles of the cathedral.
An impressive line of tourists could be seen forming along the Seine, all waiting to enter the beautifully restored Gothic masterpiece. Inside, ushers worked diligently to maintain an appropriate distance between the worshippers there for religious commitment and those simply visiting.
Rev. Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, the rector of Notre Dame, expressed his surprise at the higher-than-expected turnout. “Before the devastating fire, the cathedral attracted approximately 20,000 pilgrims daily,” he noted. “Now that number has risen to 30,000, as people are filled with joy upon rediscovering what they lost, it’s clear on their faces as they leave.”
Among those gathered was 63-year-old Marylène Portet, a lifelong Parisian who has celebrated Easter Mass at Notre Dame since she was a child. She expressed her disapproval as tourists took pictures from areas reserved for the service. “This is a sacred occasion,” she noted. “One cannot simply take a photograph of the relic and move on.”
After ushers ushered the photographers back, Portet continued to immerse herself in the moment, observing the newly restored ceiling and straining to watch the ceremony, located over 200 rows ahead of her. “This isn’t just about rebuilding the cathedral’s structure,” she shared. “It feels as though a vital connection that was lost has finally been mended.”
Tiphaine Mauquiez, who traveled from Poitiers in central France with her two young daughters, was also present. “We attempted to attend Mass when it first reopened in December, but we couldn’t get in,” she explained. “This time, we succeeded. Witnessing this moment with my daughters is truly unbelievable.”
January marked a milestone as cathedral officials reported record attendance numbers during the initial month of reopening. “Before the fire, annual visitors ranged between 10 and 12 million,” said Sibylle Bellamy-Brown, who heads public reception at Notre Dame. “Post-reopening, over 3.5 million have visited. The objective isn’t to break records — it’s about revitalizing the cathedral.”
For both domestic and international worshippers, the celebrations went beyond faith, extending toward a deep sense of reconnection. Marianna Janik, 34, traveled from Poland with her husband, timing their visit specifically for this occasion. “We couldn’t miss this,” she stated, while kneeling as the relic passed by. “We attended mass here a decade ago, and the fire broke our hearts. Now, returning to a resurrected cathedral to honor Jesus Christ, it feels even more meaningful.”
In the aftermath of a catastrophic fire on April 15, 2019, Notre Dame Cathedral was temporarily closed. But, after a meticulous five-year renovation process — which is still ongoing — the famed religious site reopened in December 2024 with a grand ceremony that attracted world leaders and throngs of attendees.