Los Angeles, January 13, 2025
Photo: wadiocese.org
As devastating fires continue to ravage Los Angeles County, having burned more than 35,000 acres and caused an estimated $135-150 billion in damage since January 7, with 16 lives lost so far, Orthodox churches and jurisdictions across America are mobilizing to provide emergency relief and support to affected communities.
Several hierarchs have issued statements of compassion and calls to prayer and for the faithful to make tangible offerings of assistance, including His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of Washington and All America and Canada of the Orthodox Church in America and His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.
His Grace Bishop Anthony of Los Angeles of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America notes that dozens of Antiochian families have been evacuated and at least one lost its home and is being assisted with immediates needs by the St. Nicholas Cathedral in Los Angeles. He published specific prayers to be offered at home:
We pray for our frontline workers, community leaders, and all those who are involved in dealing with the present danger and ongoing tragedy: Lord, have mercy!
We pray that Orthodox Christians are a light of peace and wisdom during this time so we can assist others: Lord, have mercy!
We pray that we can help those in need after this challenge passes: Lord, have mercy!
As well as a prayer for clergy and the faithful:
O Lord our God, keep our cities and every city and land from the ravages of fire and ruinous wind. Strengthen those who labor heroically to preserve life, limb and dwellings from destruction. Comfort those who have suffered terrible loss and devastation, uphold the grieving, and provide for the evacuated and displaced. Calm the winds and send to us gentle rains to quench the conflagration. Visit us with repentance and renewed faith. Hear us, O God our Savior, Hope of all the ends of the earth and those who are far off upon the sea, and be gracious, be gracious, O Master, upon our sins, and have mercy on us, for thou art a merciful God and lovest mankind, and unto thee we ascribe glory, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Other jurisdictions have launched fundraisers, including the Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Donate through its emergency relief fund here.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s Metropolis of San Francisco also has a disaster relief fund.
Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco calls for prayer, noting that there are Greek Orthodox families who have lost their homes, at least one has lost its business, and many others have been displaced.
The St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Los Angeles has also opened the doors to the church and the gym, offering food, wifi, place to regroup, and connection with community members. The cathedral is also accepting donations of various necessities, and monetary donations online here.
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