'Crown of Thorns' relic believed to be worn by Jesus during crucifixion returns to Notre Dame Cathedral

Five years after being spared from a fire that destroyed the church, an ancient relic believed to have been worn by Jesus Christ at his crucifixion has returned to the Notre Dame Cathedral. The Crown of Thorns, which is made up of a circle of rushes enclosed in a tube made of gold and crystal, made its return to the cathedral on Friday under the direction of Laurent Ulrich, the Archbishop of Paris, France.

Firefighters and police officers created a human chain to save the relic and other ancient treasures when a fire ripped through the 850-year-old Notre Dame Cathedral in 2019, which officially reopened last weekend following years of restoration. The Crown of Thorns has been placed in a freshly constructed reliquary in replace of the one from 1806 that had been damaged in the fire. The relic was being held at the Louvre Museum during renovations, the BBC reported.

Members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher, a Catholic order of knighthood, led the ceremony commemorating the relic's return. According to French media, the Crown of Thorns will go on public display starting on January 10.

King Louis IX of France purchased the crown in Constantinople in 1239. It was housed at the Sainte-Chapelle before being transferred to Notre Dame's treasury in 1806. The cathedral reopened its doors to the public on Dec. 8 following years of restoration costing more than $610 million. The reopening ceremony was attended by world leaders.