Sukharevo, Belgorod Province, Russia, April 25, 2025
ria.ru
A famous wooden church complex in the Belgorod Province of Russia was completely destroyed today after it caught fire from a drone strike by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
It’s believed that the attack against the New Jerusalem church complex was carried out by two drones working together, reports RIA-Novosti.
The Belgorod Diocese press secretary also reported that the rescuers and locals who tried to help them were prevented from doing so by another drone attacking people and equipment.
The New Jerusalem complex, built entirely out of wood, is meant to be a reproduction of the Biblical Jerusalem. The fire destroyed the Church of the Nativity of John the Baptist; the Kuvukliya of the Holy Sepulchre; Golgotha with the crucifixion and four chapels—the Icon of the Reigning Mother of God, the Stone of Anointing, the icons of St. Mary Magdalene, Equal to the Apostles, and the Royal Martyr Tsar Nicholas II.
A wonderworking copy of the Jerusalem Mother of God that attracted pilgrims from all over the world was unfortunately lost in the fire.
Thankfully, there were no human casualties.
His Eminence Metropolitan Ioann of Belgorod has vowed to restore the church complex.
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