Crown Point, Indiana, October 31, 2025
Region News Source
A small chapel at Sts. Peter and Paul Macedonian Orthodox Church in Crown Point, Indiana, was damaged by arson last week, though a holy icon inside was preserved.
At approximately 2:24 AM on Wednesday, October 22, Crown Point police and fire departments responded to a structure fire at the St. Petka Chapel, according to a press release from the City of Crown Point. Initial responding police units suppressed part of the fire before the Crown Point Fire Department arrived and fully extinguished the blaze.
The small building, which is detached from the main church, sustained significant damage. The cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation.
The church stated:
Our beloved chapel of Saint Petka Paraskeva was set on fire last week in an act of arson. Though the inside was badly damaged, by God’s grace the holy icon of Saint Petka was miraculously preserved only the back burned, while her image remained untouched. Her holy icon stands as a witness, that even in destruction, God’s mercy endures. Saint Petka, intercede for us.
Just days after the arson, on the weekend of October 25-26, the parish received a visit from the miracle-working, myrrh-streaming Hawaiian Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. The icon was brought from Hawaii by its guardian, Fr. Nektarios Yangston, accompanied by Dcn. Seraphim Andov, from the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
The visit coincided with the celebration of the chapel’s patronal feast. With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Metodij of the American-Canadian Diocese of the Macedonian Orthodox Church-Ohrid Archbishopric, thousands of faithful from the parish and neighboring Orthodox churches came to venerate the icon during Saturday evening Vespers and Sunday’s Hierarchical Divine Liturgy.
Photo: liturgija.mk
During the Liturgy, the Metropolitan elevated parish priests FathFr.er George and Fr. Alexander to the rank of archpriest. Following the Liturgy, a blessing of water was performed, and anointing with the holy myrrh flowing from the wonder-working icon took place. A new icon of the Theotokos Pelagonitissa was blessed, which will remain in the cathedral and is the same size as the original icon located at the monastery in Zrze, North Macedonia.
The celebration concluded with the breaking of the festal bread in honor of St. Petka, followed by a festive meal, Macedonian music, a performance by the church’s folklore group, and fellowship among the faithful.
Sts. Peter and Paul Macedonian Orthodox Church is the oldest parish of the Macedonian Orthodox Church in the United States.
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