Shrine of Orthodox Church in America demolished in the United States
An OCA church in Pennsylvania had served its community for over a century, but the eparchy decided to tear it down.
On October 16, 2025, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, the Resurrection Cathedral of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) was demolished.
The church, founded in 1892 by Saint Alexis Toth, had served the Orthodox community for more than 100 years. The parish decided to close the church in 2024, citing declining attendance and the high cost of repairs.
In a letter dated September 16, 2024, parish president Bain David Hatz wrote: “The exterior roof and interior ceiling of our cathedral are currently in need of major repair. Completing this work would deplete most, if not all, of our investment account.”
The OCA Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania put the church and rectory up for sale for $300,000, but no buyer came forward.
Greek-American businessman Demetri Patitsas offered $200,000, intending to establish the organization St. Paul’s Fellowship of Labor in the building, but the parish did not respond.
According to Patitsas, the diocese “quietly proceeded with demolition” despite the intervention of Mayor George Brown, city council member Tony Brooks, and state officials who requested that the demolition permit be suspended.
Demolition began on October 14. “I watched with my own eyes as the church was leveled. It was a shocking moment. People who had married, been baptized, and prayed there for generations saw their place disappear,” Patitsas recounted emotionally.
“What happened in Wilkes-Barre should wake us all up. Our faith and history are not just stones and domes; they are the soul of Orthodoxy in America,” he added, highlighting that the fate of the Resurrection Cathedral in Pennsylvania should alarm Orthodox communities nationwide.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that according to a study, 15,000 churches in the United States are expected to close in 2025.
