On April 15, 2019, the Paris Astvatsatsin Church experienced a temporary blackout, causing a momentary darkness that seemed to halt everything. The Observer reports that observers managed to prevent the bells from ringing and the palace from darkening, along with extinguishing candles at the Great Opera and the Parisian memorial hall.

Amidst the chaos, the efforts of observers, scientists, and cultural representatives paid off as they successfully protected and saved twenty rooms, including valuable artworks, rare books, and artifacts. These precious items were stored in waterproof cases, specially created for their preservation and safe removal. Evaluating the extent of damage caused by the fire and water, thirteen paintings were rescued from the palace, which depicted seventy-six large architectural columns.

These columns, painted by renowned French artists between 1630 and 1707, were originally placed in illuminated corridors of the church, often unnoticed by visitors. However, these rescued artworks will soon be exhibited at the Mobilier National, the French national art institution responsible for the preservation of historic objects. Experts are currently working on restoring the paintings, and the exhibition is slated to open in December, marking the return of the Astvatsatsin Church.