Lightning Strike Causes Fire at St. John of the Ladder Orthodox Church in Greenville, SC
St. John of the Ladder Orthodox Church, Greenville, SC, sustained significant damage after a lightning strike caused a fire on the evening of Saturday, March 7, 2026. The church caught fire at approximately 10:00 PM.
As restoration efforts begin, the parish plans to continue celebrating Divine Liturgy on Sundays at 7:00 AM and 9:30 AM in the parish hall, as well as its normal weekday services. The parish’s iconography, painted by artist-in-residence Seraphim O’Keefe, will also require restoration along with other parts of the temple.
St. John of the Ladder has experienced rapid growth in recent years and currently serves more than 500 faithful across multiple services each weekend. Despite the challenges posed by the damage, the parish sees this as an opportunity to continue their mission in upstate South Carolina.
The faithful of the Orthodox Church in America are asked to keep the clergy and parishioners of St. John of the Ladder in their prayers.
Those wishing to assist the parish are encouraged to support their GoFundMe campaign.