St. Theodosius Cathedral Domes Return After Devastating Fire

CLEVELAND, OH — Two years after a devastating fire severely damaged St. Theodosius Orthodox Cathedral, several of the Cleveland church’s iconic copper domes were lifted back onto the roof on Sept. 16, marking another milestone in its restoration.

The domes are closely associated with the cathedral’s history and were featured prominently in the 1978 film "The Deer Hunter." Their return comes as the parish works to restore the historic cathedral in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood, which initially faced possible demolition because of structural damage.

The fire broke out on May 28, 2024, after work was being performed on one of the copper domes. The blaze spread through the roof and damaged the church’s upper walls. The unstable domes were subsequently removed, allowing the cathedral’s structure to be stabilized and preserved.

The estimated cost of the restoration has risen to approximately $17 million. The church’s insurance carrier is covering $10 million, while the parish has raised about $1 million in donations, leaving an estimated $6 million still to be raised.

Fr. Jan Cizmar, dean of St. Theodosius, compared the restoration process to the biblical account of creation. “God didn’t create the whole world in one day, but it took him six days, right, and then he took a rest, so one step at a time, we do this stage first now,” he said.

Church leaders hope to complete repairs to the roof by December and replace the sanctuary’s interior plaster by April. They are also hoping enough work will be completed by mid-2027 to allow Easter services to return to the cathedral.

The final stage will include restoring the largest dome, for which additional funds are needed. Fr. Cizmar said the restoration remains in God’s hands, describing the return of the domes as another stage in the process: “Day three of creation, so we clean up all the mess, we rebuild the roof. Now the domes came back and then there will be day four, five, six and seven.” Choir master Ken Kovach, who has served the cathedral for 50 years, said the progress has strengthened the community’s hope that it will eventually return to the restored church.

Previously, the UOJ reported that a new Romanian Orthodox church was consecrated three years after a fire.