It's devastating to see Notre Dame cathedral in flames - an iconic building hosting centuries of history. The fire looks pretty well established so I would imagine the internal damage will be significant. Notre-Dame cathedral: Firefighters tackle blaze in Paris - BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47941794
Heartbreaking scenes from Paris, whatever the politics may be, at times like this all Europeans stand together as one family.
I've passed it hundreds of times now while showing people around Paris, either friends visiting town or for quite a few years I led bike tours. So so sad, and yet another hit to Paris tourism. Hope some of the building is saved but the fire looks to be spreading.
Terrible tragedy. It was a mesmerizing journey through history to.walk through Notre Dame. I hope it is not some poor individual's fault!
I've been to quite a few of the "great" Catholic cathedrals and churches and have always taken away something from all of them (metaphorically before anyone suggests I nick the lead off the roof). Many Catholics would say that St Peters in Rome is the most iconic for obvious reasons. I always disagreed - Notre Dame was stunning in it's beauty but had a simplicity that St Peters couldn't match. Im a bit shellshocked tonight and it's really surprised me.
not the first fire in a church lately Twelve French Churches Attacked, Vandalized in One Week EmailRedditTwitter please log in to view this image SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP/Getty THOMAS D. WILLIAMS, PH.D.20 Mar 20197,865 2:47 A dozen Catholic churches have been desecrated across France over the period of one week in an egregious case of anti-Christian vandalism. The recent spate of church profanations has puzzled both police and ecclesiastical leaders, who have mostly remained silent as the violations have spread up and down France. Last Sunday, marauders set fire to the church of Saint-Sulpice — one of Paris’ largest and most important churches — shortly after the twelve-o’clock Mass. Police have concluded that the fire was the result of arson and are now looking for possible suspects. The restoration of the church from the damage caused by the fire will reportedly cost several hundred million euros. In Nimes (department of the Gard), near the border with Spain, the church of Notre-Dame des Enfants was desecrated in a particularly odious way, with vandals painting a cross with human excrement, looting the main altar and the tabernacle, and stealing the consecrated hosts, which were discovered later among piles of garbage. Likewise, the church of Notre-Dame in Dijon, in the east of the country, suffered the sacking of the high altar and the hosts were also taken from the tabernacle, scattered on the ground, and trampled. In Lavaur, in the southern department of the Tarn, the village church was assaulted by young men, who twisted one arm of a representation of the crucified Christ to make it appear that he was making an obscene gesture. In the peripheries of Paris, in the department of Yvelines, several churches have suffered profanations of varying importance, in Maisons-Laffitte and in Houilles. Although commentators have been reluctant to attach a particular religious or cultural origin to the profanations, they all share an evident anti-Christian character. In recent months, anti-Semitic gangs have desecrated Jewish cemeteries, signing their actions with swastikas. In the case of the desecration of Catholic churches, the vandalism has spoken for itself: ridicule of the figure of Christ on the cross and desecration of major altars. The Catholic hierarchy has kept silent about the episodes, limited themselves to highlighting that anti-Christian threat and expressing hope that politicians and police will get to the bottom of the crimes. Reports indicate that 80 percent of the desecration of places of worship in France concerns Christian churches and in the year 2018 this meant the profanation of an average of two Christian churches per day in France, even though these actions rarely make the headlines. In 2018, the Ministry of the Interior recorded 541 anti-Semitic acts, 100 anti-Muslim acts, and 1063 anti-Christian acts.
BREAKING: Apparently a majority of art pieces were able to be recovered before destruction of the Notre Dame and it’s confirmed at least one holy relic, a presumed part of the thorn crown Jesus wore, has been recovered successfully. please log in to view this image 40 replies 607 retweets 1,012 likes
A real artistic and cultural tragedy, though it seems it could have been worse. Most of the wood that has gone, including that in the spire, was actually a nineteenth century replacement, the original gothic stonework and the big rose windows are intact. The French State seizing responsibility for restoring the building. It’s clearly a national monument so this is understandable, and it is actually owned by the French State and leased back to the church for nothing in perpetuity, which was news to me. Will be interesting to see whether the Pope will chip in with a few quid.
Sad news but seems it could have been a lot worse..due to the restoration work, many artifacts were already removed...others were saved...seems only very large canvases were unable to be removed. The rose window is damaged but not destroyed.. As an atheist I have always loved and adorded churches for their artistic, historical and cultural meaning and Notre Dame was one of the best... ( The best in my mind is Albi)...like an impenetrable fortress on the outside...and a gothic wonder on the inside..thank you Cathars for causing Albi to be created....I digress. Machon says they will rebuild...I hope they do...with a wooden ( but fireproof) spure Sent from my STF-L09 using Tapatalk
€650m already raised for the reconstruction. They reckon that it won’t take much more. Which begs the question, why the **** will it cost up to £3.9bn to renovate the Houses of Parliament, a pretty hideous neon gothic Victorian pastiche? Would it be cheaper if we burnt it down first? I’ve got matches.
