What We Lost in Yesterday's Fire: Notre-Dame in Pictures

Throughout the night, the world watched in horror as tragedy unfolded in Paris: the Cathedral of Paris's Virgin Mary, a symbol of European civilization, was reduced to ashes before our eyes. It seemed that not a single stone would remain of this world architectural treasure.

Firefighters arrived at the scene of the tragedy just 15 minutes after the fire started, but all their efforts seemed futile: the roof was ablaze, the spire cracked and fell, and flames destroyed the clocks. It wasn't until the middle of the night that the fire was brought under control.

However, in the morning, once the perimeter was cleared and experts could enter, it became clear that a miracle had occurred: the walls and vaults of the great cathedral remained intact, the altar and the altar cross were saved.

The main Christian relic—the crown of thorns placed on Christ's head before the crucifixion—was in a safe and survived. Paintings were also preserved: they were transported to the City Hall of Paris, after which they will be sent to the Louvre.

The cathedral's spire, which collapsed yesterday evening and was captured by cameras around the world, is now in the cathedral's nave. It is scheduled for restoration.

Restoration work on Notre-Dame will begin immediately. The French patrons have already allocated the first 100 million euros for this effort. The government has announced a national fundraising campaign. Everyone who cares can join the cause.