On April 15, the roof of Notre-Dame cathedral in the heart of Paris went up in flames. Engineers and workers are still busy securing the partially destroyed building. For the first time in more than two centuries, Parisians cannot celebrate Christmas mass in Notre-Dame.
The dean of Notre-Dame, Patrick Chauvet, would instead celebrate the midnight mass on Christmas Eve in the Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois church at the Louvre, the community confirmed at the weekend.
A Christmas mass had been celebrated in Notre-Dame every year since 1803 - even during the German occupation in World War II.
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Paris: Notre-Dame is on fireThe roof and spire of the world-famous Gothic cathedral were destroyed in the fire in April. According to investigators, the fire was probably triggered by a lit cigarette or a short circuit during construction work on the roof. The public prosecutor's office is investigating negligent arson.
The work to secure the cathedral should also continue partly over the holidays.
The actual reconstruction is scheduled to begin in 2021. French President Emmanuel Macron has promised to reopen the church by 2024. Experts consider this to be very ambitious. Some now estimate 10 to 15 years for the new roof construction.
The exact form of the reconstruction is still under debate. Chief architect Philippe Villeneuve advocates a historic reconstruction of the destroyed spire, but President Macron wants a "creative reconstruction" in a modern form. An announced architectural competition has still not been announced.
