Restoration Begins at St. Theodosius Cathedral After Fire

Photo: St. Theodosius Orthodox Christian Cathedral / Facebook

CLEVELAND, OH — Restoration work has prayerfully begun at St. Theodosius Cathedral, two years after a devastating fire caused extensive damage to the historic Orthodox Church in America (OCA) landmark. The blaze, which broke out in May 2024 during roofing work, was ruled accidental but left the cathedral in need of significant repairs.

Initially estimated at $1 million, the cost of restoration quickly rose beyond $10 million and is now projected at approximately $17 million. Built between 1911 and 1912, the cathedral is a recognized Cleveland landmark and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1974. The earlier church on the site was constructed with donations from Royal Martyr Nicholas II of Russia.

The cathedral remains closed, with services currently held in the parish hall. The community recently marked the start of restoration with a moleben. “We didn’t feel that we could start that without proper prayers,” said Fr. John Zdinak, emphasizing reliance on divine help. Donations toward the project continue to be accepted online.

Previously, the UOJ reported that St. John of the Ladder in Greenville, SC is seeking donations after a church fire.

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