A few days after Emmanuel Macron's visit, organized on November 29, Notre-Dame de Paris will officially reopen during the weekend of December 7 and 8, 2024. Here is what is planned for this occasion.
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Saturday December 7: official ceremony and concert
The first highlight of the reopening of the monument burned in 2019 will take place late in the afternoon on Saturday December 7. “The reopening service, chaired by the Archbishop of Paris (will be held) in the presence of the President of the Republic, officials, patrons, invited jointly by the State and the diocese, representatives of all the parishes of Paris, members of the cathedral chapter and the Parisian clergy »it is explained on the monument website. L'Agence France Presse explains that Emmanuel Macron should speak during this ceremony.
During the rite of opening the cathedral, the archbishop will first strike the closed doors of Notre-Dame de Paris with his crosier. Once these are opened, there will follow repetitions of Psalm 121, the revival of the great organ, a series of prayers, a final blessing and a God bless you.
“The service will be followed by a program produced by France Télévisions and broadcast on mondovision from the square in front of the cathedral”continues the Notre-Dame site. This show will be broadcast from 9:05 p.m. and will allow many artists to perform. Among them: Clara Luciani, Vianney, Garou, Angélique Kidjo, the pianist Khatia Buniatishvili or the DJ Michael Canitrot.
Sunday December 8: consecration of a new altar and first mass open to the public
The inaugural mass of the monument will take place on Sunday, December 8 at 10:30 a.m. It will again be presided over by the Archbishop of Paris, Monseigneur Laurent Ulrich, and always in the presence of the President of the Republic. In total, 170 bishops from France and around the world will attend the service, as will a priest from each of the 106 parishes of the diocese of Paris, and a priest from each of the seven Eastern Rite Catholic Churches. The ceremony will be dedicated in particular to the consecration of the new altar of Notre-Dame.
“This mass will be followed by a fraternal buffet to welcome the most deprived and those who accompany them on a daily basis within the charitable organizations of the diocese of Paris”, continues the Notre Dame website. L'Agence France Presse indicates that a first mass open to the public will be held the same day at 6:30 p.m.
Until December 15: an “octave” of reopening
This mass on December 8 will mark the beginning “by an octave” reopening, namely eight days of ceremonies dedicated to the reopening of Notre-Dame. These masses will take place at 10:30 a.m. They will be dedicated to donors, patrons, merchants and residents of the Notre-Dame district.
“The reservation system for these masses open to the public during the inaugural week will be available Tuesday, December 3 in the morning”indicates the Notre-Dame website.
