Notre-Dame resumed services: what happened at the first mass in 5 years

In the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris on December 8, for the first time in 5 years after the fire, a mass was held with the consecration of a new altar. The ceremony was attended by President Macron and other high-ranking officials. This is reported by UNN with reference to the Guardian. 

The inaugural Mass was led by the Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich. the AFP news agency notes that 150 bishops and more than 100 metropolitan priests were present at the site. 

French President Emmanuel Macron made a speech. He praised the firefighters who saved the cathedral, especially those who stopped the flames on the northern bell tower, the destruction of which would almost certainly have led to the collapse of the XIII-century structure and the destruction of the building.

Macron also mentioned Victor Hugo, whose 1831 novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame convinced the French authorities to restore the cathedral, which was destroyed at that time, for the first time.

Emmanuel Macron became the first French head of state to deliver a speech inside the cathedral.