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| Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris (Source) |
Six hundred and seventy four years of history are in peril.
One of the most beautiful buildings on the planet is engulfed in flame.
Read more here.
I am speechless.
The musings & rants of 3 retired military (2 USAF, 1 USN), 1 former WSO, and 1 AF brat. Old AF Sarge, Juvat, Tuna, LUSH, and Beans.
It just hurts my heart to see this beautiful cathedral burn...and so quickly! Guess it goes to show that 850 year old wood is very very dry.
ReplyDeleteI do hope they were able to save some of the relics.
So I guess the renovation budget has just been expanded...
I so hope they rebuild, I'll chip in on that!
DeleteI've been crying since hearing this. I hope to God this was a simple accident, else it may spark a bigger fire.
ReplyDeleteAll the glass, gone. All the artwork, gone. The spire, gone. Shades of Aachen and Dresden. Nothing but a shell, an unstable shell will remain.
So much history, gone. I am stunned.
DeleteOne expects this to happen from war, or natural disaster. But the claim that this was a construction accident? Hrmmmm....
DeleteI hope there's nothing sinister behind this.
DeleteTruly sad, and they may not be able to save any of it. Latest is that fire is now in the North Tower. Apparently, they DID get the copper statues out prior to the fire.
ReplyDeleteBut the windows...
DeleteHeard they got the relics out also. Really praying this is an accident...
DeleteWindows are relatively easy to restore. Yes, not the original glass, but better than not being restored. Called my wife to tell her about it and she is greatly saddened as well.
DeletePaul
Cajun - Praise the Lord they got those statues out!
DeleteBeans - Yes, that is sad beyond words.
DeleteJuvat - We're praying the same prayer...
DeletePaul - Yes, but all of that history. This is nearly soul crushing for one of French descent.
DeleteNearly crushing for anyone with a soul, let alone a Catholic during Holy Week. Add in French descent (raises hand) and that just adds to the soul-crushing.
DeleteI look at news articles and cry.
But... Saw an image after the fire was out of the actual insides. Some of the vaulting has collapsed, but the interior was mostly spared. Macron finally has acted like a leader and pledged France will rebuild it.
I see that one French billionaire has pledged $100 million towards repairs. Good man that.
DeleteWhen we were in Notre Dame, a choir of teen females was singing.
ReplyDeleteIt was ethereal and ended too soon.
We are both in shock.
Same here, can't believe it.
DeleteIt will be interesting to learn how much renovation was being done in Holy Week there. Also did you note the other "incidents" against Catholic churches in France during the last several months? Almost 50 in February alone. This Notre Dame fire is so sad, so much lost.
ReplyDeleteReally hoping it was accidental, a deliberate act to destroy such a beautiful and historic place is just too much to contemplate.
DeleteWith all of the desecration and acts of arson that have been going on recently in Europe there is no way I believe this was a construction accident.
ReplyDeleteIt does strain belief.
DeleteMy heart is broken. I was there as a senior in high school, many years ago. So grateful we had a thorough tour, and were able to celebrate Mass there. I always dreamed of returning as a mature adult, to tour again, and attend Mass again. The beauty and history was indescribable.
ReplyDeleteI pray they rebuild it looks like they managed to save the main structure. Still, it won't be as it was.
DeleteWhen I heard about it at work, my mind instantly went to thoughts of Terrorism. I pray I'm wrong, and for the faithful on this Holy Week.
ReplyDeleteOddly enough my mind didn't go straight to terrorism. Old building, renovations, you never know.
DeleteBut with the stuff that's been going on in France, it pays to look at all angles.
As of 9:37, the fire has been out for a few hours. Clean up and water/smoke remediation has started.
ReplyDeleteWe know these facts. The cathedral was in poor shape before the fire, and undergoing a restoration mostly funded by Americans. Then the fire broke out, burned the roof, collapsed some of the vaulted galleries, but most of the interior was spared. Macron has pledged the nation will rebuild it. A French billionaire has already pledged $86+ million, and others are lining up.
The Altar area was spared. Miraculously.
We will see what next happens.
Thanks, OldAFSarge, for giving us a place to talk and vent.
I needed it too.
DeleteYAY, POMPIERS DU PARIS!
ReplyDeleteYes, indeed!
DeleteI sort of assume that some workman failed to properly extinguish his execrable Gitane before leaving for the night, but we may never know for sure.
ReplyDeleteOh the authorities may have a good idea of the truth in time, however, given the political climate in Europe presently, the public may not know for years, if ever.
DeletePaul
a bear - That is one possibility.
DeletePaul - Good point.
Delete"Some stupid with a flare gun..."
DeleteWas Deep Purple in town? (Or was that Zappa?)
Delete