Orthodox Girl's 'Miraculous' Recovery After Being Shot in the Head
MINNEAPOLIS — Sophia Forchas, a 12-year-old Orthodox girl who was injured in the August 27 mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis, has shown remarkable progress, with her condition upgraded from critical to serious, her family announced on September 12.
Sophia was shot in the head during the attack that killed two children and injured 21. She faced a grim prognosis. Her neurosurgeon, Dr. Walter Galicich, called her recovery “miraculous,” noting that she arrived with severe brain trauma. The bullet remains in her head to avoid further damage, and part of her skull was removed to manage swelling.
A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $1.1 million for her care. Sophia’s family credits global prayers and support for her progress, calling her a “warrior” fighting a steep recovery with determination.
She and her family are members of St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church, in Minneapolis.
Read also
ROCOR Priest Reflects on Trip to Capitol Hill
Archpriest Victor Boldewskul participated in the Society of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco's Day of Action to raise awareness about the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Hundreds of Chinese Christians Arrested in Pre-Christmas Crackdown
Hundreds of Chinese Christians face spending Christmas in detention after authorities launched a sweeping pre-holiday crackdown on churches under Beijing’s campaign to control religious life.
Ukraine Adviser: UOC Not Banned, but Offered a 'Choice' of Jurisdictions
A Ukrainian presidential adviser said the UOC is not banned but pressured to choose between joining the OCU, submitting to Constantinople, or remaining unregistered, while dismissing international concerns as propaganda.
Indiana Reports 98% Drop in Abortions Under Stricter Law
Indiana’s latest health report shows a 98% drop in reported abortions under stricter laws, though dozens still occurred under legal exceptions and concerns persist about unreported pill abortions.
Armenian Apostolic Church Pushes Back on Political Encroachment
The Armenian Apostolic Church plans to appeal to international bodies to resist government interference and defend its clergy and sacred relics.
Attempted Takeover at Armenian Etchmiadzin Cathedral Thwarted by Faithful
Supporters of Armenian PM Pashinyan attempted to storm Etchmiadzin Cathedral amid calls for the Catholicos’s resignation but were blocked by parishioners and security.