Here are five things you may not know about the church that has often been called the “Queen of Cathedrals.”

1. Building was an 182-year process Rome was not built in a day, and neither was Notre-Dame. Construction of the cathedral began in 1160 and took nearly two centuries. While most work was done by 1260, it was finally completed in 1345.

2. It’s home to many relicsThe most famous relic located in Notre-Dame is the crown of thorns believed to have been placed upon Jesus Christ during his scourging. The cathedral also contains a piece of the true cross and one of the nails used in the crucifixion, plus relics of many French saints. Initial reports suggest that the relics were saved from the blaze.

3. It’s not actually owned by the Archdiocese of ParisDue to France’s laws regarding secularization, the French government owns all churches builtbefore 1905, including Notre-Dame.

The government lets the Archdiocese of Paris use the building for free, and will continue to do so in perpetuity. The Archdiocese of Paris is responsible for the upkeep of the church, as well as for paying employees.

4. It is the most-visited site in Europe
With 12 to 13 million visitors annually, Cathedrale Notre-Dame has more visitors than anywhere else in Europe.

5. It has been destroyed before While Monday’s fire was certainly the most extensive damage ever done to Notre-Dame, this is hardly the first time she has undergone structural trauma.

In WWII, nearly all of the glass was broken when Paris was bombed, and Huguenots destroyed icons and statues during the sixteenth century.

During the French Revolution, Notre-Dame was ransacked and re-dedicated to the “Goddess Reason.” The building itself was used at that time for wine storage. The Church resumed use of the building in 1801.

Source:
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/amp/news/5-things-to-know-about-the-cathedral-of-notre-dame-in-paris-11196?_e_pi_=7%2CPAGE_ID10%2C3494036764

Below: Donald Trump yielding to the temption of Notre-Dame Last November

God protects his Church. Thank you Jesus

Still not surprised

OneCorner:
Still not surprised

Even the ownership structure, where have you seen such before.