This past Wednesday morning during Matins, someone entered the sacristy area of St Andrew the First-Called Russian Greek- Catholic Church and St Paul's Melkite Mission in El Segundo and set some vestments on fire. This happened while the priest and some parishioners were chanting Matins. Thankfully, Father Archimandrite Alexei was able to put the fire out and no one was hurt.
There was extensive damage to the sacristy area and smoke damage but the fire did not spread to any other part of the church and services will continue as usual. In recent weeks an arsonist has lit several fires in businesses, residences, and churches in the area.
On the parish's FB page, they report that a clock on the wall near the fire was totally destroyed (melted), but an icon of Moses before the Burning Bush, equidistant from the fire was untouched.
Prayers for Father Alexei and the parishioners.
TV interview with Father Alexei [abc7.com]Many years,
Neil