A church in Thorhild Alberta (Canada) has been completely destroyed by fire.
The blaze began at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of St. Peter & St. Paul just before noon Saturday.
According to fire chief Nick Kuzyk, people were inside the church preparing for Sunday’s service when they noticed smoke coming from the ceiling.
By the time fire crews arrived flames were visible.
Kyzyk said the building was a total loss.
Officials believe the cause of the fire was electrical but it is still under investigation.
There were no injuries.
John-Paul Himka, a historian and professor at the University of Alberta, said the church was filled with numerous, irreplaceable “valuable icons.” Important items lost in the fire include an iconostasis — a wall of icons and religious paintings — made by prominent Ukrainian-Canadian iconographer Vera Senchuk, and several other icons dating back to the 1940s.
Church secretary and treasurer Cheryl Pasay said a church in Redwater has offered use of their services, but the 24-member congregation has yet to hold a formal meeting to decide where to worship in the future.
Construction on the church began in 1945. The first service was held in 1946.
