Evia, Greece, August 5, 2021
Photo: orthodoxianewsagency.gr
The abbot and most of the monks of St. David of Evia Monastery on the Greek island of Evia were forced to evacuate yesterday morning as wildfires raced dangerously close towards the holy habitation.
But, glory to God, and thanks to the brave firefighters, the fire was halted and the monastery was saved, reports the Orthodoxia News Agency and a number of Greek outlets.
The brothers were “drowned in smoke,” Abbot Gabriel commented earlier before the brotherhood consented to leave, leaving the fate of their monastery in the hands of God. “May the Panagia and the holy elder [St. Iakovos of Evia—OC] put their hand out that it not reach this far. It’s destroying everything,” the abbot said.
Videos have appeared online showing how close the fire came to the monastery. The monks say their home was “licked” by the flames:
A few monks stayed behind to gather the holy relics and other sacred treasures of the monastery, but in the end the damage was very minimal. Many trees were cut down around the perimeter to help stop the aggressive fire, and in the end, God helped, the monks say, turning the fire away in another direction.
As OrthoChristian reported yesterday, St. Herman’s Monastery and St. Xenia’s Skete in northern California are both currently under threat of wildfire, and the nuns of the skete have already been evacuated.
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