OCA Parishes Spared in Hurricane Charley

Parishes of the Orthodox Church in America located in the path of Hurricane Charley were spared serious damage from the storm.

Protopresbyter Robert S. Kondratick, OCA Chancellor spoke with local clergy on behalf of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman and was relieved to learn that no major damage was sustained by the parishes or their parishioners, despite minor water issues, power outages, and downed trees. Parishes in or near the hurricane’s path include Saint Demetrius Mission, Naples, FL; Saint Stephen the Protomartyr Church, Longwood-Orlando, FL; and Holy Cross Church, Fort Myers, FL. Parishes in the Saint Petersburg-Tampa area, including Holy Trinity Church, Safety Harbor, and Saint Mark Chuch, Bradenton, were spared any serious damage when the storm, which initially was expected to hit the metropolitan area, changed course.

In a related story, International Orthodox Christian Charities [IOCC] is currently assessing damage in Florida and planning to offer assistance to those most seriously affected by the hurricane.