Firefighters have controlled a huge blaze that broke out at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Upper Manhattan Tuesday morning.

The fire broke out in the gift shop at the rear of the church around 6:30 a.m. and quickly went to five alarms. Over 200 firefighters responded and, using thermal imaging cameras to direct their hoses in the dense smoke, prevented the flames from reaching the main body of the church.

There is no extensive fire damage to the church's stone facade, but firefighters said there is heavy smoke and water damage inside. Nonetheless, church officials still hope to clean up in time to celebrate Christmas mass in the cathedral.

"We want to give thanks that no one was hurt this morning. That's the most important thing, " said Reverend Catherine Roskam, the retired bishop suffragan of the New York Diocese. "And the Christmas wish is that we, along with the rest of this city, will continue to rebuild and to reach out, one to another."

Fire marshals are investigating the cause of the fire and determining the extent of the damage.

The historic Episcopal church is on Amsterdam Avenue at 112th Street in Morningside Heights. The first stone was laid in 1892 at the unfinished structure, which is still billed as the world's largest cathedral.

For perspective, one parishioner said the meaning of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in the Episcopal faith is the same significance the Vatican has for Catholics.

There were no injuries. About a dozen staff members were inside when the fire started but got out safely. There is also a school on church grounds, but it hadn't yet opened.