Pennsylvania demolished the historic Resurrection Cathedral of the Orthodox Church in America

In the American town of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, the Resurrection Cathedral, which belonged to the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), was demolished on October 16, 2025. The historic church, which served the local community for over a hundred years, was demolished due to declining parishioner numbers and unsustainable repair costs, despite attempts by the public and local officials to save the building.

The cathedral, founded in 1892, was an important spiritual center for Orthodox believers in the region. The decision to close it was made by the parish in 2024. In an official letter, parish president Bain David Hutz pointed out the critical condition of the building, «The exterior roof and interior ceiling of our cathedral are currently in need of major repairs. Completion of these repairs will wipe out most, if not all, of our investment account.»

After the closing, the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania put the cathedral and surrounding buildings up for sale for $300,000. Greek-American businessman Demetri Patitsas offered to buy the cathedral for $200,000 to house St. Paul’s Fellowship of Labor, but he said there was no response from the parish.

Despite the intervention of Mayor George Brown and other officials asking for a stay of the demolition permit, demolition work began Oct. 14. «I watched with my own eyes as the church was being demolished. It was a shocking moment. People who had been married, baptized and prayed there for generations saw their place disappear,» Patitsas said.

The demolition of the historic church has caused deep regret in the local community. Demetri Patitsas expressed hope that the event would be a wake-up call for the faithful. «What happened in Wilkes-Barre should wake us all up. Our faith and history is not just stones and domes; it is the soul of Orthodoxy in America,» he concluded.

Recall, earlier we reported that up to 15,000 churches in the United States are expected to close this year. This is due to significant changes in the religious landscape of the country, which leads to a decrease in the number of parishioners and financial difficulties for many congregations.