Photo credit: Sky News (News.sky.com)

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I waited for a few days for this tribute post on the destruction of a part of Notre Dame (the building’s spire and most of its roof had collapsed, and its upper walls had been severely damaged; extensive damage to the interior was prevented by its stone vaulted ceiling, which largely contained the burning roof as it collapsed). As a European I grieve for this misfortune but I’m also so optimistic about its instauration: Tomorrow, I am sure that the Day of Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ (according to the Catholic calendar – I happen to be an Orthodox) will also mark the start of the resurrection and total remedy of Notre Dame.

Taking into account the aspect of engineering, the damages are definitely repairable and that is the fortunate element in this misfortune for France and the EU.

Pessimistic presumptions of the kind “Notre Dame will never be the same” are nonsensical and unduly far from reality. Parthenon, the cultural ornament of my city, Athens, suffered a larger misfortune in the 17th century but this infelicity did not affect its blaze and effulgence. Indeed, Notre Dame will never be the same: it will be even more bright and shining.