The Crown of Thorns, venerated as a relic of Jesus Christ’s Passion, has returned again to Notre Dame Cathedral. The enshrinement ceremony took place on December 13, 2024, five years after the crown was saved from the devastating 2019 fire.
The ceremony, led by Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, began with a procession from the Louvre Museum, where the relic had been safeguarded during the cathedral’s restoration.
Over 400 members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, including knights in white coats bearing red crosses, accompanied the relic. A knight carried the crown on a red velvet cushion. Encased in a crystal and gold frame, the crown has been treasured since its arrival in Paris in 1239, brought by King Louis IX from Constantinople.
Inside the cathedral, the Crown of Thorns was placed in a newly crafted reliquary. Located in the axial chapel, the reliquary is made of cedar and marble, with gilded bronze thorns and hand-crafted glass blocks that reflect light onto the relic. A luminous blue niche at the center holds the crystal-encased crown.
The ceremony included a procession through the cathedral’s aisles, allowing all present to view the crown.
Beginning January 10, 2025, the Crown of Thorns will be displayed for public veneration every Friday until Good Friday. Outside these times, it will be securely stored within the reliquary’s base, which serves as a highly protected altar tomb.
Notre Dame Cathedral, extensively restored over five years, reopened to the public earlier this month, welcoming the faithful and visitors to witness the renewed glory of the iconic site.
Photo credit: Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
