Church members Chris Bruff and Elizabeth Reimann survey the damage Friday from the flooding inside St. Anthony Antiochian Orthodox Church in Linda Vista.(Sandy Huffaker/SDUT)
Posted on 08/24/2021 6:16:16 PM PDT by marshmallow
Church members Chris Bruff and Elizabeth Reimann survey the damage Friday from the flooding inside St. Anthony Antiochian Orthodox Church in Linda Vista.(Sandy Huffaker/SDUT)
An unknown vandal(s) attacked an Orthodox church in San Diego last week, though no severe damage was inflicted.
The damage was confined to the lower walls and furniture at St. Anthony Antiochian Orthodox Church on Merton Avenue after someone left a hose running by the front door, which flooded the church overnight on Wednesday-Thursday, reports the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Fr. John Reimann was relieved to find out that the church’s brand-new iconography along the ceiling wasn’t damaged after he received a call about the vandalism.
“We just finished recently with very beautiful, ornate iconography on the ceiling,” Fr. John said. “When the custodian called and told me we had been vandalized, I feared the worst.”
The altar, raised a few steps above the nave, also survived unscathed.
But the perpetrator(s), who broke through the driveway gate, connected the two hoses on the church grounds, and stuck the nozzle near the front door, did cause damage to the 2,500-square-foot church’s marble floors, oriental rugs, pews and other furniture, and the bottom the walls.
There was an inch of water inside the church, Fr. John noted.
(Excerpt) Read more at orthochristian.com ...
Beautiful church.
I know this priest’s wife quite well as she was my sister’s maid of honor and they also attended college together
One thing I appreciate about free republic is the personal connection to the new stories. Thanks for sharing that.
I lived in a house directly across the street from the church back in the early 70s. I shared a link to the article with my siblings. I am glad the damage was not too bad. It is very unfortunate.
“As for the person(s) responsible, Fr. John said: “We’re praying for them. We would want them to come and join us, and see the beauty ... We pray God’s mercy, God’s love and God’s forgiveness for them.””
You’re welcome.
God bless Fr. John.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.