Historic Notre Dame Cathedral Destroyed

An inferno raged through the Cathedral of Notre Dame, in Paris, France, engulfing the 850-year-old structure while stunned Parisians watched in horror from every vantage point as the flames breached the roof toppling the church towers.

'"The worst has been avoided, but the battle isn't fully won yet,"' French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement outside of the cathedral. He also expressed his sympathies to Catholics around the world, the people of Paris and the people of France. The fire broke out just days before Easter. '"We will rebuild the cathedral together,"' Macron said, adding that France will start an international fundraising campaign to raise money for the renovations," CNBC reported.

The raging blaze broke out late Monday at 6:50 PM and instantly images of the popular tourist destination burning out of control were circling the globe via social media. More than 500 firefighters were on the scene battling the blaze that took five hours to bring under control.


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The all-consuming fire was sending shooting flames out of the roof and climbing up through the towering, tapering twin towers until one buckled splitting in half, falling into the burning sanctuary. Thick plumes of smoke filled the evening sky. A drone flew over what once was a pristine architectural feat, capturing images of a hell fire, glowing, raging flames. Cindered and charred remains from where the fire had been beat down by firefighters.

Still smoldering eight hours later, the Fire Chief said, "We have saved it from total destruction."

Built in the 13th Century, the structure, which survived World War II, was consumed in minutes and with it 850 years of history, not only great historic moments, global moments, but also individual, not seen, moments. Memories, the great and the small, now held only in our hearts.


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Pictures of crowds, from all walks of life, gathering along the banks of the Seine, and in central Paris standing, sitting, filming, in shock watching the raging inferno, not knowing what to do or how to respond to the horror they were witnessing.

Mourners from around the world, joining with Parisians, are sharing images of intricate stained-glass designs, towering tapering images of the twin spires, a man-made wonder, now nearly gutted as the orange-red flames, burned everything they touched.

As the world is mourning the unfathomable loss after the fire destroyed the Cathedral of Notre Dame, news of precious artwork saved and removed just last week, and probably even some hours before fire ravaged the Gothic structure is offering small comfort in the face of such a huge tragedy.

Last week, 16 bronze statues representing 12 apostles and four evangelists from the New Testament were lifted off the spire of the cathedral by crane. Hopefully, the Crown of Thorns that Roman Soldiers placed on Christ before he walked the Via del Rosa and during His Crucifixion which was purchased at some point preciously kept and guarded survived.


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Macron is vowing to rebuild and seeking international partners to assist in the process.

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