New golden rooster is enthroned in Notre Dame

12/17/2023 4:17 pm (current 12/17/2023 4:17 pm)

The golden rooster is once again enthroned in Notre-Dame ©APA/AFP

Paris' Notre-Dame Cathedral has a new golden rooster: Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich blessed the figure before it was placed in its place on Saturday in the church building's 96-meter-high tower, which was seriously damaged in a fire in 2019. The new tap by architect Philippe Villèneve replaces the original, which was too damaged in the fire to be reused.

Villeneuve, one of the main architects of the reconstruction, called the new rooster's “wings of fire” a reminder that “the cathedral can rise from the ashes, like a phoenix.” The old rooster will be displayed in a new Notre Dame museum.

In Christian belief, the rooster symbolizes the return of light after the darkness of night. It is also a national symbol of France and can be found, among other things, on the shirts of the French football and rugby teams.

The new rooster contains relics inside that were saved after the fire on April 15, 2019, as well as a sealed document with the names of almost 2,000 people who participated in the reconstruction of Notre-Dame.

Notre Dame was heavily damaged in the 2019 fire. The cause of the fire has not yet been clarified, but investigators assume it was an accident, such as a short circuit. The pointed tower, which now had a tap again, fell from the roof burning in the fire. Around 840 million euros in donations were received from around the world for the renovation of the famous cathedral. Before the fire, an average of twelve million people visited the cathedral every year.

Immediately after the fire, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Notre-Dame should be rebuilt within five years.