France's Symbol Returns to the Spire of Notre-Dame Cathedral
Saturday, December 16, Paris – as reported by ABC, a pivotal moment occurred today in the revival and restoration of the Notre-Dame Cathedral – the installation of a new weather vane in the form of a rooster (a symbol of France) with sealed Christian relics atop the cathedral spire. Crafted from copper and gilded, the rooster figure will adorn the newly reconstructed central spire of Notre-Dame, marking a symbolic milestone in the lengthy process of restoring the beloved cultural landmark after the devastating fire in April 2019. Designed by Chief Architect of Paris Philippe Villeneuve, the new weather vane replaces the damaged original, which was miraculously found by restoration workers but deemed irreparable. Like its predecessor, the new rooster figure will house sacred church relics – fragments of Christ's crown of thorns brought to Paris by King Louis IX in the 13th century, as well as the sacred relics of Saint Denis and Saint Genevieve. Placed atop the spire, the sacred relics, as before, are intended to safeguard Paris from all kinds of misfortunes.
Before being installed on the spire, the reconstructed 19th-century French rooster was blessed by Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich. Additionally, a specially sealed tube containing a list of 2000 names of those who contributed to the cathedral's reconstruction was placed before the sculpture's ascent.
The rooster, symbolizing vigilance and the resurrection of Christ, is also one of the allegorical names of France. Le coq gaulois, meaning "the Gallic rooster," is how the ancient Romans referred to the red-haired "crested" Celtic tribes (Gauls) inhabiting the territory of modern France at that time.
The current restoration of the cathedral is far from the first. Recall that Notre-Dame was destroyed during the French Revolution and reconstructed in the second half of the 19th century.
French President Emmanuel Macron, visiting Notre-Dame last week at the ceremony marking the countdown to its reopening, stated that the original rooster would be exhibited in the Hôtel-Dieu museum, and Pope Francis would come to bless the opening of the restored cathedral in 2024.