Notre Dame is not a regular building. It has been a symbol of Parisian pride and culture for centuries. A cathedral built over 800 years ago, it’s more than just a religious symbol and so, when it caught fire last evening, life in Paris came to a standstill.
The moment #NotreDame’s spire fell pic.twitter.com/XUcr6Iob0b
— Patrick Galey (@patrickgaley) April 15, 2019
People took to the streets, looking helplessly at the monument as parts of it burnt to the ground. A group of people were also seen singing Ave Maria, which is a prayer to the Virgin Mary, mourning this irreparable loss.
Ave Maria pic.twitter.com/lb6Y5XV05a
— Ignacio Gil (@Inaki_Gil) April 15, 2019
Some were also seen exchanging prayers.
My brother @HinmanLabUCLA sends along this super sad video of Parisians holding hands, kneeling in prayer and singing together as they watch Notre Dame burning. pic.twitter.com/qoTYLyCMaE
— Katie Hinman (@khinman) April 15, 2019
The fire started on Monday, burning about two thirds of the building and bringing down the famous spire. In a tweet, French President Emmanuel Macron said a ‘part of us’ burns tonight.
Notre-Dame is aflame. Great emotion for the whole nation. Our thoughts go out to all Catholics and to the French people. Like all of my fellow citizens, I am sad to see this part of us burn tonight. https://t.co/27CrJgJkJb
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 15, 2019