On the evening of April 15, 2019, smoke started rising from the roof of Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris. Within an hour, the 850-year-old oak framework — medieval builders called it "the Forest" because it took an entire forest of trees to build — was a wall of fire. The cathedral's iconic spire collapsed on live television while millions watched, many in tears. But inside the burning building, something far more dramatic was happening than anyone outside could see.
0%
Prophets & Pilgrims·2/4·1′
The place
Notre-Dame de Paris
The Crown of Thorns in the Flames
The firefighters' human chain that saved Christianity's holiest relic from an inferno
April 15, 2019 (relic dates to 1st century AD)Notre-Dame de Paris
Moral of the Story
“Some things survive not by luck, but because in every generation, someone decides they're worth walking into fire for.”
Characters
F
Father Jean-Marc FournierP
Paris firefightersK
King Louis IX (historical)C
Christ (theological)Source
Paris Fire Brigade reports; Father Jean-Marc Fournier interviews; historical records of the Crown of Thorns