Aftermath from Hurricane Helene flooding in Asheville, North Carolina. Photo: foxweather.com
As a tropical cyclone traversed the Gulf of Mexico, reaching Category 4 intensity, a few parishioners braved the storm to attend Vigil, praying with a greater sense of urgency as the storm was raging outside the St. Nicholas Orthodox Church (ROCOR) in Asheville-Fletcher, North Carolina. With the loss of power and internet that evening, those in attendance appreciated even more the solemnity of the service, the Nave being illuminated only by candles and lampadas. The next day the city of Asheville, sitting at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, would be turned into a “catch basin” for rain gushing down 4,000 feet of elevation.
While the Orthodox Church commemorated the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on Friday, September 27/14, Hurricane Helene devastated the region of western North Carolina surrounding St. Nicholas and left many communities in ruins from catastrophic flooding, damaging winds, washed out roads, decimated bridges, downed trees, and the loss of power, water, and communications signal. Over 200 deaths across six states have been attributed to the storm. As of October 10, there were 91 verified storm-related fatalities in North Carolina from Helene, according to NCDHHS. The hurricane’s destruction forced the cancellation of the Liturgy for the Great Feast on Friday.
Fr. Steven Webb, who has been serving as our parish rector since 2013, commented, “Hurricane Helene has left widespread devastation in our Western North Carolina region. The impact on our parishioners and the greater community is profound, with numerous tragedies affecting our area. Some families have found shelter at the parish, while many others visit during the day to collect or donate supplies. St. Nicholas has become a hub for organizing relief efforts, with volunteers gathering here to clear roads and deliver essential items to those in need.”
By God’s mercy, St. Nicholas returned to the full schedule of services the day after the storm, despite being without electricity until the following Monday. This was not the first time St. Nicholas has continued services during states of emergency. When other churches closed during the Covid pandemic, our parish remained open. By offering the Holy Mysteries during the pandemic, many people joined the parish from other jurisdictions, and others from diverse backgrounds converted to the Orthodox Faith.
Several of those families were recently trapped in their homes and neighborhoods. Some of the faithful, being unable to attend services, have held Typica reader’s services in their homes, most of which were without electricity. In one such home, amidst fallen trees all around and on the roof, a recently baptized couple held their first newborn baby, born early Sunday morning (September 29/16), after being in labor during the storm. Afterwards, Fr. Steven was able to make it to them to bless the baby and the house. Another family, still without electricity and running water, miraculously found a natural spring on their property, in a 100-year-old hand-built stone enclosure. They have been able to provide clean drinking water for neighbors all throughout the recovery.
Founded in 1995, St. Nicholas Orthodox Church is located less than ten miles south of downtown Asheville, which was recently submerged from flooding in many areas. Surrounded by hotels and close to the Asheville Regional Airport, the church has functioned as a commuter parish in an ideal location for services and events, such as the Diaconate Boot Camp held in 2018.
Having outgrown our original building, we began constructing a new temple during the pandemic. In September 2020, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion blessed the newly laid foundation. Four years later, the building is dried in but still under construction. During the hurricane, our church property suffered minor damage, but neighboring properties experienced severe destruction.
The new building is now being used to stock emergency supplies. With its close proximity to the airport, our church became a hub for gathering and distributing supplies. Many parishioners, volunteers, and groups from the surrounding area came to St. Nicholas to donate bottled water, non-perishable food, medical supplies, paper products, diapers, wipes, cleaning supplies, pet food, propane, and gasoline for generators. Orthodox brethren came from long distances and other nearby parishes to offer tremendous help—St. Timothy's in Hickory, Reigning Mother of God in Charlotte, St. Tikhon's in Tennessee, and Christ the Savior in West Virginia.
With the overabundance of essential supplies surpassing the immediate needs of parishioners, Fr. Steven directed our church’s focus toward supporting people in the remote and cut-off areas in need. The church also distributed to other organizations including the International Orthodox Christian Charity. Parishioners at St. Nicholas have been mobilizing our own teams for supply runners and clean-up crews. Groups of parishioners have also cleared blocked driveways and roads with chainsaws.
Fr. Steven traveled on a delivery run to bless the supplies and rescue vehicles. Meeting with rescue teams, he learned that the major concern wasn’t a lack of immediate supplies but the long-term challenge of rebuilding lives and communities after such great destruction. He observed, “Everything will have to be rebuilt from the infrastructure to the economy. Everyone who comes into contact with this tragic reality is deeply moved for the people and the community.”
Indeed, western North Carolina also faces economic devastation after Helene. Many of us are faced with severe property damages, lost jobs, or do not know what to expect for the future. Charitable contributions will help our congregation and families facing economic uncertainty.
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church is also asking for hurricane relief donations toward the completion of the new temple. For an estimated cost of $225,000, our church can complete the next and final phase of building, including plumbing, electricity, construction of the cupola, and interior work such as framing, drywall, and paint.
On the Great Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, the Church commemorates the finding of the true cross by Empress Helen (the mother of St. Constantine the Great). Hurricane Helene has helped our community to find and take up our own cross, following after our Lord Jesus Christ. Fr. Steven noted, “The cross was present and with us in a way we didn’t expect.”
Your support in these challenging times is greatly appreciated as St. Nicholas Orthodox Church works to rebuild and recover from Helene’s impact. Our community will continue to help one another and our new friends in the affected areas, recognizing the road to recovery will be long and challenging. To support our relief efforts, you can make a donation through our parish website.
