The European Association of Architects and Cathedral Works invited cathedrals across Europe to ring the tocsin on Thursday, March 3 at noon, for seven minutes - one minute for each day since the Russian army invaded Ukraine.
The European Association of Cathedrals called for the tocsin to be sounded on Thursday, March 3, at noon, for seven minutes for peace in Ukraine.
When nations burn, let bells ring the tocsin!
"When nations burn, let bells ring the tocsin!" indicates the message sent by the association to our colleagues from le Figaro. By sounding our bells, “we show our solidarity with others (…), we remember the dead of all the countries involved (…) we carry in our thoughts all those who are affected by this war, we pray for peace and if guns fall silent we will express our gratitude.”
Many cathedrals, including those of Autun, Limoges, Lyon, Dijon, Coventry and Berlin, responded positively to the call to ring their bells. In France, responding to this initiative is at the discretion of the dioceses.
The association brings together over one hundred member cathedrals across Europe, including the Ukrainian cathedral Saint-Sophie in Kyiv and Notre-Dame de Paris which has announced that the great Emmanuel bell will sound its toll. Mgr Chauvet, rector of Notre-Dame de Paris, encouraged those participating in the square to observe a moment of meditation.
