Notre-Dame's iconic rooster retrieved from rubble

The metal rooster which perched on the top of Notre-Dame's spire was found in the rubble on Tuesday and appears to have been spared the worst of the fire. “It is dented but properly restorable,” a Ministry of Culture spokesman said of the rooster, which contains three relics that may also have survived the blaze.  As the rooster was partially crushed when it fell off the spire, the extent of the damage to its contents is unknown. Stored inside the rooster is one relic of St Denis, one of St Genevieve and one of the thorns from the crown that Jesus Christ wore at the Crucifixion.  The rooster has served as a "spiritual lightning" rod for Notre-Dame, according to the cathedral's website.  The rooster was perched on top of the spire Credit: AP/Diana Ayanna However, the spire itself - which was seen tumbling off the roof of the Notre-Dame on Monday to the horror of unlookers - is destroyed, having melted in the heat.  It came as the fund set up to help rebuild Notre-Dame is expected to pass one billion euros as Emmanuel Macron pledged to restore the fire-ravaged cathedral in five years. Donations from worshippers and wealthy French billionaires and corporations have seen hundreds of millions of euros raised since the cathedral was engulfed by flames on Monday. Contributors include Apple and magnates who own L'Oreal, Chanel and Dior, as well as Catholics and others from around the world.

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