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Omaha Orthodox Church Burglarized and Vandalized
After thieves stole church furnishings and damaged the building’s plumbing and heating systems, the Omaha parish is seeking help with repairs while remaining committed to its Orthodox faith.
OMAHA, NE — As reported by OrthoChristian, St. Vincent of Lerins Orthodox Church, a small Western Rite parish in Omaha, was burglarized and vandalized over the weekend, leaving the congregation unable to hold its Sunday services and facing substantial repair costs.
The intruders entered through a rear window and stole several items used in worship, including chalices and candlesticks, along with other metal objects. They also cut out the church’s copper water pipes and damaged its heating and air conditioning system, the parish reported on Facebook.
The church, which belongs to the Diocese of Wichita and Mid-America of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, has established a GiveSendGo fundraiser to pay for repairs and replacements. The appeal describes the congregation as small and operating on a very tight budget. Among the planned improvements is replacing the front doors with more secure ones.
Despite the damage, the parish emphasized that the break-in would not interrupt its commitment to Orthodox worship. “We will continue in our Orthodox faith, to proclaim the Glory of God!” the church declared.
Founded in 1990 by former Episcopalians seeking to embrace Orthodox theology while retaining the Western Rite tradition, St. Vincent eventually acquired its own building in Omaha’s Benson neighborhood. Fr. Theodore Eklund has served as its rector since 2004.
Previously, the UOJ reported that thieves stole bells and sacred items from a Sviatohirsk Lavra skete.
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