The Crown of Thorns, one of the most precious Christian relics, returns to its sanctuary at Notre-Dame de Paris this Friday. This sacred object, saved from the flames during the tragic fire of 2019, will be deposited at 4.30pm during a ceremony ofostension and veneration, presided over by the Archbishop of Paris. The knights and ladies of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, guardians of the crown since 1923, will accompany this solemn event.
This priceless relic, venerated since the 13th century, is in France thanks to Saint Louis, who brought it back from Constantinople in 1239. After being kept in the Sainte-Chapelle, it found a home in Notre-Dame in 1806. At the time of the cathedral fire in 2019, it was protected in a hermetically sealed box, alongside a fragment of the True Cross and a Passion nail, also saved thanks to the intervention of the firefighters.
From January 2025, the crown will be accessible to all worshippers and visitors every Friday until April 18, 2025, Good Friday. Thereafter, it will be on view on the first Friday of each month. This exhibition offers a unique opportunity to get closer to the story of the Passion and this symbol of humility and suffering.
Father Guillaume Normand, vice-rector of the cathedral, points out: " This crown is what remains of Jesus' Passion. It's not just a treasure, but tangible proof of the historicity of these events.
Don't miss this exceptional opportunity to reconnect with a founding chapter of Christian history in the heart of Paris, in the majestic Notre-Dame, a symbol of resilience and faith.
Location
Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral
Cathédrale Notre-Dame
75004 Paris 4
Access
Metro - RER: - Cité (4) - Saint Michel - Notre-Dame (B,C) - Hôtel de Ville (1,11) - Maubert-Mutualité / Cluny - La Sorbonne (10) - Châtelet - Les Halles (7,14,A,D)
Recommended age
For all
