Faith, uninterrupted: A temporary, wooden cathedral in front of Notre-Dame during restoration
The wooden 'cathedral' would host priests to address millions of tourists each year.
By PTI |
Agencies
PARIS: Catholic worshippers feeling orphaned by the fire that ravaged part of Notre-Dame will be welcomed in an "ephemeral cathedral" of wood in front of the Paris monument until it reopens, Notre-Dame's chief priest said Thursday.
Speaking to France's CNews television channel Monsignor Patrick Chauvet said: "We mustn't say 'the cathedral is closed for five years and that's it'.
Interior of Notre-Dame Cathedral
To give the faithful somewhere to congregate next to Notre-Dame, he suggested: "Can I not build an ephemeral cathedral on the esplanade (in front of Notre-Dame)?" Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo had backed the idea and agreed to give over part of the esplanade to the church for a wooden structure, he said.
Chauvet said the wooden "cathedral" would host priests who could address some of the millions of tourists who throng the original 850-year-old Gothic cathedral each year.
A view the medieval Roman Catholic Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral also known as Our Lady of Reims seen in October 1937 a year before it was reopened following reconstruction after it was destroyed during World War One (WWI) by German army shelling which set alight the temporary wooden scaffolding, which in turn ignited the oak wood in the cathedral’s roof. - The High Gothic style cathedral is where the kings of France were crowned, hosting thirty-three sovereign coronations in just over 1000 years. (Photo: AFP) On Tuesday, President Emmanuel Macron said he aimed to rebuild Notre-Dame within five years.
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The government said it would launch an international architecture contest to replace the burning steeple which came crashing down during Monday's inferno, along with a large part of the roof.
An aerial shot of the fire damage to Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. Chauvet said the surrogate "cathedral" would be erected quickly, as soon as the esplanade reopens after work to secure the cathedral is completed.
The fire is believed to have been accidentally triggered by restoration work which was being carried out on the steeple.
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The rose windows present within the cathedral are one of the most popular features of classic, gothic architecture. The windows, which were originally created in the 13th century, have been replaced over the years for the structure's maintenance. The windows are currently safe from the effects of the fire.
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The cathedral is home to religious artefacts including the Crown of Thorns - the thorn-woven crown that was placed on Jesus's head during the incidents which ended in his crucifixion. Other precious..
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