Fire breaks out in the Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Sydney

·

According to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, on Thursday, September 30, a fire broke out in the Holy Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Sydney.

The fire caused significant damage to the interior of the historic and heritage-listed building of the church and in particular to parts of the roof over the holy altar and the chapel of St John the Theologian.

His Eminence Archbishop Makarios and his colleagues who were at the Archdiocese at the time were not in danger and did not suffer any injuries, the statement reads.

Sacred utensils and articles that were kept in the sanctuary were damaged by the large amount of water that was used during the fire-fighting operation, while the electronic and microphone system of the church was completely destroyed.

The process of assessing the losses is in progress and there will be a further update once this is completed.

Regarding the cause of the fire, the initial assessment is that it was due to a short-circuit, although this is subject to the completion of the relevant investigation by the competent authorities.

The Holy Archdiocese of Australia conveyed “its fervent gratitude to the firefighters who rushed to the scene to prevent the fire from spreading further and to extinguish it.”

“Our thanks also goes to the police for their immediate mobilisation and assistance in the ordeal of our local Church,” the statement reads.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Peter Mamouzelos aims to play in Greece as rugby league grows

Peter Mamouzelos has expressed his ambition to play rugby league in Greece, a goal that has been hindered in the past due to the sport's ban.

Trust-building steps taken in Cyprus, but peace talks still elusive

Cyprus' rival leaders, Greek Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, made some progress on Wednesday.

Greece to invest 25 billion euros in major defence revamp

Greece is set to invest 25 billion euros in a comprehensive defence overhaul, marking the "most drastic" transformation in its modern history.

Trump targets Australia’s beef trade in new tariff announcement

Experts are warning of rising prices for American consumers as US President Donald Trump announces sweeping reciprocal tariffs.

The Greek passport (for Aussies) debacle: Part One

For quite a while now, I've been hearing complaints from Greek Australians about long delays in obtaining a Greek passport.

You May Also Like

Year’s worth of rain pours over island of Crete in first week of 2020

The latest storms which have swept across parts of Greece over the last several days brought extensive rainfall to many parts of the country, primarily in the eastern and southern mainland and the islands.

Hydra on the Eve of the Greek War of Independence

Time travel is still not a possibility but Alexander Billinis takes us back to Hydra around the period of the Greek Revolution.

Athens and Shanghai sign twinning agreement to boost cooperation

The mayors of Athens and Shanghai have signed a twinning agreement aimed at enhancing cooperation in tourism, culture, and other key sectors.