FRANCE/FILE: Notre Dame cathedral's new bells are tested before their first official sounding to mark the start of Holy Week
Record ID:
187244
FRANCE/FILE: Notre Dame cathedral's new bells are tested before their first official sounding to mark the start of Holy Week
- Title: FRANCE/FILE: Notre Dame cathedral's new bells are tested before their first official sounding to mark the start of Holy Week
- Date: 22nd March 2013
- Summary: VILLEDIEU LES POELES, FRANCE (FILE - OCTOBER 17, 2012) (REUTERS) FOUNDRY EMPLOYEE BLASTING CLAY DUST FROM BELL 'MAURICE' FOUNDRY EMPLOYEE ATTACHING BELL 'MAURICE' TO HOIST BELL 'MAURICE' BEING LIFTED OUT OF PIT WHERE IT WAS MOULDED HANDS BRUSHING CLAY OFF BELL FOUNDRY OWNER TESTING SOUND OF BELL BELL BEING LIFTED DETAIL ON BELL READING (French): "NOTRE DAME DE PARIS 1163-2013" PARIS, FRANCE (FILE - JANUARY 31, 2013) (REUTERS) BELLS DISPLAYED IN FRONT OF CROWD DETAIL ON BELL DETAIL ON BELL READING: "DENIS" BELLS DISPLAYED IN FRONT OF CROWD CROWD TAKING PHOTOS OF BELLS PARIS, FRANCE (FILE - FEBRUARY 2, 2013) (REUTERS) PROCESSION OF CHURCH DIGNITARIES WALKING PAST BELLS CHURCH OFFICIAL STANDING BY BELLS PARISHIONERS HOLDING CANDLES AND SINGING PROCESSION OF CHURCH DIGNITARIES APPROACHING BELL YOUNG GIRL SOUNDING BELL CHILDREN SOUNDING BELL, AUDIENCE APPLAUDING
- Embargoed: 6th April 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: France
- Country: France
- Topics: Religion,Religion
- Reuters ID: LVA4BQI8GGVNTG25RWUK7I1GFHND
- Story Text: Tourists were given a sneak preview of the voices of Notre Dame's new bells on Friday (March 22) as they were tested before their official sounding.
As crowds queued for the popular Parisian landmark, the sound of the cathedral's latest additions could be heard ringing above.
The official first sounding of the bells takes place on Saturday to kick off Holy Week celebrations in the church, which had the new bells cast as part of its 850th anniversary celebrations.
Rector of Notre Dame Monseigneur Jacquin said the run-up to Easter was the apt moment for the bells to join the voices of Paris.
"In the solemnity of the great Holy Week, we'll hear this set of bells sing with the greatest ceremony, all the bells, which are going to ring, reverberate, resound, sing in the Parisian sky," he told Reuters TV.
Jacquin added that the bells would bring a sense of community to the City of Light.
"It's also a way for the people of the city to feel that this cathedral in the heart of the town resonates and echoes to the joys and griefs of the men of these times," he said.
The bells had been all but silent since February last year as the set of four in place since the 1850s were removed and put into storage. One lone bell remained to toll for the throngs of tourists.
A French bell foundry several hundred kilometres from Paris was chosen to design and make their eight replacements, each named after an important figure in the religious history of Paris. As well as the eight bells produced by craftsmen in Normandy, an additional bell was made by a Dutch foundry -- a nod to the international reach of Notre Dame.
The surviving great bell Emmanuel from 1686 was joined by its new comrades cast over a number of months, including Marie, Gabriel and Anne-Genevieve.
Transported on lorries from the foundry and paraded down the Champs Elysees avenue, the bells were welcomed in January with applause by crowds eager to see the new additions to the Parisian landmark.
A ceremonial blessing for the new arrivals was held in February, where each received its name from two children designated as its 'godmother' and 'godfather'.
Former Pope Benedict XVI was also godfather of the bell Benoit-Joseph. All the bells later received the blessing of Pope Francis, which was conveyed to the archbishop of Paris two days after his election. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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