The Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ardeer, Victoria, has suffered significant smoke damage due to an undisclosed fire which happened on or about 10th June 2015.
The fire went out by itself, possibly because of a lack of oxygen in the church but the whole church is covered with a layer of black soot. It would appear that everything will have to be restored, cleaned, repainted, and brought back to its original state. It would appear the fire started in the sacristy. The damage was only discovered on Friday, 12th June as Fr. Zenon Chorkawyj, the present Pastor of the Parish of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Ardeer, is on vacation in Ukraine at the present time.
It will take some time to return the church to its usual beauty. The church is fully covered by insurance. The amount of damage is not yet determined.
Regular Sunday services and all other religious activities will be conducted out of the Parish hall which is next door.
