Indiana Chapel Sustains Serious Damage in Suspected Act of Arson

Damage sustained at the St. Petka Chapel. Photo: Region News Source

CROWN POINT — In the early hours of Oct. 22, 2025, at the St. Petka Chapel of Ss. Peter and Paul Macedonian Orthodox Church in Crown Point, Ind., a structure fire broke out in which Crown Point police and fire departments responded.

According to a release from the city, police units responded at approximately 2:24 a.m. and suppressed a part of the fire before the arrival of the Crown Point Fire Department, which fully extinguished the blaze.

The cause and origin of the fire are officially under investigation, according to law enforcement. Parishioners have shared security footage in the comments of the city's release asking for help in identifying individuals shown outside of the chapel, as well as their vehicle. The chapel, which is located outside of the main church, suffered significant damage.

In a video posted to TikTok, the church said:

"Our beloved St. Petka Chapel was set on fire last week, an act of arson that left the small church in ruins. Flames tore through the space. But even through the smoke and destruction, grace was present. The inside is badly burned... debris and ash cover what once was a sacred place. Amid the ashes, mercy revealed itself."

The video then shows that the large icon of St. Petka Paraskeva located in the chapel only suffered burns on the back, with her holy image remaining miraculously untouched.

"Even through fire, she shows us her compassion and mercy," the video says. "By God's grace, her face shines still... unburned, unbroken. St. Petka, pray for us!"

In another blessing bestowed upon the parish, the church hosted the Hawaiian Iveron Icon of the Mother of God from Oct. 25-26, which coincided with the chapel's patronal feast.

Previously, UOJ reported that Abp. Stefan of Ohrid, primate of the Macedonian Orthodox Church–Ohrid Archbishopric, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos in Columbus, Ohio, marking the parish feast and the 60th anniversary of its first consecrated church building.

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