POINT ZERO
Construction of the Notre-Dame in Paris's Île de la Cité began under the reign of Louis VII in 1163. The first stone of the gothic building was laid in the presence of Pope Alexander III. But construction wasn't completed until 1345.
Notre-Dame, which translates in English as "Our Lady", has played a role in key moments of history and captured the imagination of people around the world, drawing an estimated 13 million visitors a year.
A plaque outside Notre-Dame marks "Point Zero" - the official Center of the Capital and the marker in France from which all distances to Paris are measured. A major symbol of the Catholic faith, the Cathedral contains revered relics, including the “Crown of Thorns” said to have been worn by Jesus before the Crucifixion.
Notre-Dame Attic Was Known as ‘The Forest.’ And It Burned Like One. Each beam of the cathedral attic’s wooden frame is made from an individual tree — more than 1,300 in total — giving it the nickname “The Forest”
Paris (AFP) - The charred roof of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris was once a legend that "astounded the Middle Ages" and still fascinates master carpenters, Thomas Buechi of the Charpente Concept group told AFP.
What does the roof represent for master carpenters? It is possibly one of the greatest masterpieces for French master carpenters. For a painter it would have been a bit as if the Mona Lisa went up in smoke.
The framework (known as "the forest") was mythical; it was a legend for several reasons. It was so complex that it astounded the Middle Ages. First of all, it took 50 years to prepare the timber. They began cutting the trees, around 1,500, sometime around the year 1200.
These were laid for a year with the top turned to the North to align them with the energy of the Earth. The bark was then removed and they were immersed in a swamp for 25 years to preserve the wood from fungus and insects.
Around 1225, the wood was removed from the water and the trunks were sawed into beams and allowed to dry for another 25 years. Given average lifespans at the time, it meant that most of those who cut down the trees never saw the roof structure.
MATTHEW
21:1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 21:2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway you shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.
21:3 And if any man ask of you, you shall say, the Lord has need of them; and straightway he will send them. 21:4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 21:5 Tell the daughters of Zion, Behold, your King come unto you, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
21:6 And the disciples went, and did as Jah’sus commanded them, 21:7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. 21:8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way.
21:9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Creator; Hosanna in the highest. 21:10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the City was moved, saying, who is this? 21:11 And the multitude said, this is Jah’sus the Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.
21:12 And Jah’sus went into the temple of the Creator, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 21:13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but you have made it a den of thieves.
(Spirit of Truth) If the crown of thorn worn by Cry’ist were within this Cathedral, why would it be burnt, just before his Crucifixion? Why would it burn on Tax Day? This is the confrontation of the Cry’ist of Truth and the Christ of the Lie. For the Cry’ist of Truth that died for the homeless and poor, went into the Temple and drove out the Tax Collectors, who he said made his House of Prayer, into a den of Thieves. The Cry’ist of Truth began his Ministry on the Day they claim he was Crucified.
