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On a Monday in April 2019, thousands of people gathered near the burningNotre-Dame Cathedral.
Photo: Getty Images
A choir joined to sing hymns as many stood in shock, or crying.
Heres everything it’s crucial that you know about the weekends events.
How did we get here?
Video: Vincent Isore (IP3/Getty Images)
On April 15, 2019,Notre-Dame Cathedralwent up in flames, but the cause still remains a mystery.
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How was Notre-Dame reconstructed?
Archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich leads prayers to consecrate the new main altar, designed by French artist and designer Guillaume Bardet.
Macron has praised the 2,000 workers who brought Notre-Dame back and helped him keep his promise.
And its an immense source of pride for the entire nation.
Archways, gargoyles, and ornamental roofing were also restored and remade.
Artisans did much of the construction using medieval tools to maintain the buildings traditional aesthetic.
(Ideas to modernize the building floated by the French government were met with swift and widespread disapproval.)
A sealed tube containing the names of all 2,000 workers was also placed inside the aforementioned golden rooster.
How much did the reconstruction cost?
The entire bill for the colossal, lengthy rebuild wasapproximately$767 million.
The cost of restoring the iconic stained glass windows alone was estimated around $3 million.
Any unspent money will go towards the cathedrals future preservations, reportedly.
How did the fashion world react?
KeringCEO Francois-Henri Pinaultdonated$113 million for the restoration, while LVMHs Bernard Arnaultpledged$226 million.
The Bettencourt Meyers family, which controls LOreal, also pledged $226 million.
LVMH said its creative and financial teams would support the rebuilding and helped to solicit more donations.
Who attended the opening ceremony?
Although Donald Trumps inauguration is still more than a month away, he absconded to Paris to attend.
Prince William met with Trump after the ceremony,according to reports, to discuss the special US-UK relationship.
Pope Francis decided against attending the event.
(According to a French archbishop, the pope was determined to keep the focus on Notre-Dame itself.)
What happened at the reopening?
The evening, said to have 1,500 attendees, began with a speech from Macron.
The doors opened as the moving Psalm 121 was sung.
Next a succession of psalms and prayers known as the chanting of the office were sung.
Then, a final blessing from the archbishop.
The bells of Notre-Dame are ringing again, Macron said in his first address.
The greatness of this cathedral is inseparable from the work of all, he said.
Macron concluded, long live Notre-Dame and the French republic.
A standing ovation also took place for the firefighters in attendance who fought the blaze in 2019.
Gustavo Dudamel led the Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France.
(Dudamel, who conducted the Chineke!
Vianney performed Leonard Cohens Hallelujah, and Pretty Yende sang Amazing Grace.
The grand organ was used by Olivier Latry in the Organ Symphony by Saint-Saens.
Actor Marion Cotillard recited Victor Hugo as cellist Yo-Yo-Ma performed.
Pharrell performed Happy backed up by a 60-person choir.
An impressive lightshow illuminated the buildings western facade.
The exterior building was lit up with a message of thanks in various languages.
Saturdays reopening ceremony was shown on local channelFrance 2, and was watched by 7.23 million people.
When is it open to the public?
A ceremony took place on the Sunday evening which was free for the public to attend.
Pariss tourism board haslaunched an appto reserve free tickets for future visits.
The cathedral will be officially open from this week, and tickets will remain free.
What happens next?
The first mass took place on Sunday morning, which also marked the second Sunday of Advent.
This also included the consecration of the new altar, with the relics of five saints sealed within it.
170 bishops from across France and the world also participated in the Sunday mass.
And again, the white and primary-colored vestments and robes designed by Castelbajac were worn.
A second mass in the evening invited the public in for the first time.
Mass will be held twice daily, open to the public, for a week after its opening.
On December 17 and 18, there will be performances of Johann Sebastian BachsMagnificat.
There is an ongoing competition for French artists to contribute to new stained glass window designs.
