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“Paris is beheaded” after the fire touched the symbol of Christianity

SHAFAQNAA massive fire at Notre Dame, the world-famous, 850-year-old cathedral and the symbol of history of Paris, on Monday destroyed much of its structure. This tragedy saddened the people around the world, so that political and religious personalities reacted to the case and sent messages of condolence to Parisians. 

A devastating fire that began on Monday afternoon has destroyed the roof of the 850-year-old UNESCO world heritage landmark, whose spectacular Gothic spire collapsed before the eyes of horrified onlookers.

For much of the afternoon, flames and plumes of smoke billowed from the cathedral as firefighters in cranes sprayed water onto the structure. Around 500 firefighters battled the blaze for nearly five hours.

The structure had been “saved and preserved as a whole,” the fire chief, Jean-Claude Gallet, said. The two magnificent towers soaring above the skyline had been spared, he said, but two-thirds of the roof was destroyed.

The cathedral had been undergoing extensive renovation work. Last week, 16 copper statues representing the Twelve Apostles and four evangelists were lifted with a crane so that the spire could be renovated.

No one was killed, officials said, but a firefighter was seriously injured.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known, officials said. But it appeared to have begun in the interior network of wooden beams, many dating back to the Middle Ages and nicknamed “the forest,” said the cathedral’s rector, Msgr. Patrick Chauvet.

As firefighters battled the blaze, Parisians gathered outside the church Monday night, raising their voices in prayer.

Tourists and residents alike came to a standstill, pulling out their phones to call their loved ones. Older Parisians began to cry, lamenting how their national treasure was quickly being lost.

Thousands stood on the banks of the Seine river and watched in shock as the fire tore through the cathedral’s wooden roof and brought down the spire.

Jean-Louis Martin, 56, a native of Dijon in eastern France who works at the university in Geneva, gasped as the flames leapt up. “It hurts me,” he said. “There are no words. It’s just horrible.”

The crowd gasped and cried in horror when the spire fell. “Paris is beheaded,” said Pierre-Eric Trimovillas, 32.

Thibaud Binétruy, who lives in Paris, said he saw the smoke while walking home. He was gripped by the sight of the falling spire, he said.

People reacted with audible gasps, but “most of them were just shocked silently,” he said.

“It’s awful to see such a symbol disappearing in front of you. It’s been there for so many years and in a few minutes half of it disappeared … crazy. Paris without Notre Dame, madness.”

American tourist Jason Hinman was visiting a garden when he saw smoke in the air.

He said he walked toward the scene and stopped on a bridge in time to see the spire falling in a multicolored blaze.

“Several people covered their mouths. They couldn’t believe what they were seeing.”

He wandered the streets until he stumbled upon a group of people on their knees, singing and praying.

Another witness, Anne Marie, spoke with tears in her eyes: “Paris without the cathedral is not Paris anymore.”

“It is like losing a member of one’s own family,” said Pierre Guillaume Bonnet, a 45-year-old marketing director. “For me there are so many memories tied up in it.”

President Emmanuel Macron lamented the destruction of an awe-inspiring building that embodied the heart of Paris for more than 800 years. But he pledged to rebuild, starting with the launch of an international fundraising campaign.

“Notre Dame is our history, it’s our literature, it’s our imagery. It’s the place where we live our greatest moments, from wars to pandemics to liberations,” he said.

“This history is ours. And it burns. It burns and I know the sadness so many of our fellow French feel.”

Emmanuel Macron said the worst has been avoided, but warned the fire would likely continue to burn for several days, cautioning: “the battle is not yet totally won”. He praised the courage and professionalism of firefighters.

French billionaire François-Henri Pinault, the chairman and CEO of international luxury group Kering, pledged 100 million euros towards rebuilding Notre Dame, according to a statement.

The front pages of French newspapers all lead on the story of the blaze on Tuesday. Their headlines range from “Le coeur en cendres” (The heart in ashes, La Croix), to “Notre Drame” (Our drama, Liberation), to Notre Dame des Larmes (Our Lady of Tears, Le Parisien).

At the same time as the fire broke out at Notre Dame a fire was also burning at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the third holiest site in Islam.

The mosque fire was much smaller than the Notre Dame blaze and seems to be under control. The Palestine News Agency, the official outlet of the Palestinian National Authority, reported “the fire broke out in the guard’s room outside the roof of the Marwani Prayer Room, and the fire brigade of the Islamic Waqf handled the matter successfully”, The Guardian told.

Symbol of Christianity in France

Notre Dame’s foundation stone was laid in 1163 by Pope Alexander III, and the cathedral was completed in the 13th century. Today, with its towers, spire, flying buttresses and stained glass, Notre Dame is considered a feat of architecture as well as a major religious and cultural symbol of France.

Notre-Dame with a jewel of medieval Gothic architecture, located in Île de la Cité, a small island in the middle of the city, is a landmark not only for Paris, where it squats firmly yet gracefully at its very center, but for all the world. The cathedral is visited by about 30,000 people a day and around 13 million people a year.

Even as it fell into disrepair over the centuries, it was the site of Napoleon Bonaparte’s coronation as emperor in 1804. The central spire was built in the 19th century amid a broad restoration effort, partly buoyed by the success of “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame” in 1831.

In addition to the Crown of Thorns, the cathedral also houses the grand organ, one of the world’s most famous musical instruments, and numerous artworks.

The Vatican said the Holy See lamented the devastation of a “symbol of Christianity” in France and beyond.

But to many in France, Notre Dame was more than a house of worship, said French author Bernard-Henri Levy. It’s a symbol of French culture, architecture and history.

“Notre Dame de Paris is really one of the beating hearts of the French civilization,” he said.

“How can you rebuild eight or nine centuries of history? How can you rebuild the tears, the whispers and the memories of a whole country and of the whole civilization?”, CNN told.

In recent years, the Friends of Notre-Dame, a foundation based in the United States, estimated that the structure needed nearly $40 million for urgent repairs. The French state, which owns the cathedral, already devotes up to 2 million euros a year in upkeep, or about $2.4 million.

The cathedral had been undergoing extensive renovation work. Last week, 16 copper statues representing the Twelve Apostles and four evangelists were lifted with a crane so that the spire could be renovated.

The fire came during Holy Week, six days before Easter Sunday. For Roman Catholics, the cathedral has been a spiritual pilgrimage site for generations. France has a deep Catholic history, and nearly two-thirds of its population is Catholic, even though fewer and fewer attend Mass.

“It’s apocalyptic,” said Eleanor Batreau, 45, who organizes pilgrimages to Lourdes and sometimes works at Notre-Dame. “It reminds me of Dresden burning. I’m a Catholic, and Notre-Dame is a symbol of Mary.”

The risk of the fire is not just to the cathedral itself, but also to the gargoyles that cover its walls and to the stained glass, particularly its “rose” windows.

The largest of its bells, which dates to 1681, managed to survive the French Revolution and has been rung at some of the most important events in French history, including both World Wars.

Bernard Fonquernie, the architect in charge of the cathedral’s restoration in the 1980s and 1990s, said that he believed much of the building, its furnishings and its stained glass could be saved. “The stone vaulting acted like a firewall and it kept the worst heat away,” he said.

Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel, “Notre-Dame of Paris,” noted even then that “one cannot but regret, cannot but feel indignant at the innumerable degradations and mutilations inflicted on the venerable pile, both by the action of time and the hand of man”, nytimes reported.

Expressions of support from world leaders

The Vatican said Pope Francis “has seen with shock and sadness the news of the terrible fire that has devastated the Cathedral of Notre Dame, symbol of Christianity in France and in the world.”

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres tweeted that he was “horrified” by the images coming out of Paris.

António Guterres (@antonioguterres)

Horrified by the pictures coming from Paris with the fire engulfing Notre Dame Cathedral – a unique example of world heritage that has stood tall since the 14th century. My thoughts are with the people and government of France. https://t.co/KnLegnlRFH

April 15, 2019

Australian prime minister Scott Morrison has tweeted about the fire.

Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP)

I fondly remember standing outside Notre Dame with Jen almost 30 years ago. So sad to see this beautiful cathedral in flames this morning. Our thoughts are with the people of France and emergency services who are fighting this fire. They will rebuild as Parisians always do.

April 15, 2019

And some cathedrals are tweeting in solidarity.

St Paul’s Cathedral (@StPaulsLondon)

Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the devastating fire at Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, particularly in this time of Holy Week.

April 15, 2019

The Fondation du patrimonie, a private heritage foundation, has launched an international appeal to rebuild Notre Dame Cathedral, “in order for Our Lady to be reborn from her ashes”.

Salisbury Cathedral (@SalisburyCath)

Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the tragic fire at the Notre-Dame Cathedral.

April 15, 2019

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has tweeted “I feel a profound sadness before the tragedy. France is touched in its flesh, in its heart, in its identity, in its history. I would like to share my pain with Catholics and we all French people for whom Notre Dame is a symbol. That everyone is mobilising already and is already helping the reconstruction .”

Iran foreign minister Javad Zarif‏ has tweeted “Saddened that Notre Dame—that iconic monument dedicated to the worship of our one God & that brought all of us closer through Hugo’s literary masterpiece—is partially destroyed after standing through wars & revolution for 800 yrs. Our thoughts are w/ the French & all Catholics”.

 

Read more from Shafaqna:

Video: Notre-dame of Paris on Fire

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