”Our Lady of Africa” reopened with great fanfare
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ennahar
ALGIERS - The Basilica of Notre-Dame d’Afrique (Our Lady of Africa) in Algiers was solemnly reopened Monday in the presence of Algerian and French dignitaries after extensive restoration work which cost 5 million euros.
- In the presence of Minister of Religious Affairs and Waqf, Bouabdallah Ghlamallah of Presidents of Regional Councils in the south of France Michel Vauzelle and Jean-Noel Guerin and the Mayor of Marseille Jean-Claude Gaudin, the archbishop of Algiers, Jordanian Archbishop Ghaleb Bader, welcomed the restoration of the basilica built in the 1850s by French settlers.
The building is a symbol of Algeria but also "a symbol of meeting between people," said the archbishop who said that the church must remain a "symbol of understanding and meeting".
After the restoration started in 2007 and ended last July, the basilica is "a true masterpiece," added Archbishop Ghaleb Bader.
The architect in charge of construction, Xavier David, for his part explained the work done, including the addition of seismic-resistant materials.
Abandoned during the dark decade of terrorism, Our Lady of Africa has indeed suffered during the 2003 earthquake in Boumerdes (east of Algiers), which had deepened further cracks in the building with two turrets which threatened collapse.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Africa is the "sister" of Notre Dame de la Garde in Marseille (France), to which it also faced throughout the Mediterranean and which has also been restored by the same team.
For its restoration, the EU has contributed one million euros, the city of Marseille 1.08 m euros, the Algerian state and the French state half a million each.
The French region of Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur (PACA) and private donors have contributed 35%.
Ennaharonline/ M. O.
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