Landmark Orthodox Church in Pennsylvania, USA, Demolished

The religion served the Orthodox assemblage for much than 100 years, but the parish decided successful 2024 to adjacent it. This week it was demolished. Credit: Orthodoxia Post

The Holy Resurrection Orthodox Cathedral of the Orthodox Church successful America successful Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was demolished this week contempt a run to prevention it.

The religion served the assemblage for much than 100 years, but the parish decided successful 2024 to adjacent it, citing a diminution successful parishioners and precocious repair costs. The Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania approved the merchantability of the church and rectory for $300,000.

In a missive dated September 16, 2024, proposing closure, signed by Bain David Hutz, the president of the Holy Resurrection Cathedral, stated, “The exterior extortion and interior ceiling of our Cathedral are presently successful request of large repairs. Completing these repairs would hitch retired most, if not each of our concern account. And owed to a dwindling fig of progressive members, who are disproportionately elderly, we person trouble successful gathering our month-to-month expenses”.

Offer to prevention the religion “ignored”

Greek-American businessman Demetri Patitsas submitted a $200,000 acquisition connection with the volition of lodging the St. Paul’s Fellowship of Labor enactment there, but received nary response. Shortly afterward, helium learned that a demolition licence had been issued.

“I reached retired to the priests and offered to bargain the religion for $200,000, to support it progressive arsenic a spiritual halfway and office for our organization. Yet, contempt repeated efforts, we ne'er received an authoritative response,” helium told the National Herald.

Instead, arsenic helium noted, the OCA Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania softly proceeded with the demolition, contempt interventions from Mayor George Brown, metropolis councilor Tony Brooks, and authorities officials who requested that the licence beryllium halted.

“I watched with my ain eyes arsenic the religion was leveled. It was a shocking moment. People who had married, been baptized, and prayed determination for generations saw their spot disappear,” helium recounted emotionally.

“What happened successful Wilkes-Barre should aftermath america each up. Our religion and past are not conscionable stones and domes; they are the psyche of Orthodoxy successful America,” helium noted.

Related: Service Dogs to Be Allowed successful America’s Greek Orthodox Churches