On Sunday, March 5, 2006, the eve of the first day of Great Lent, flames shot out of All Saints Orthodox Church in Olyphant, Pennsylvania, severely damaging the Church building. The Reverend Paul Fetsko, the pastor, had only enough time to save vestments and some of the sacred items on the altar table and in the altar. Parishioners and firefighters later retrieved banners and other liturgical items.

His Grace, the Right Reverend Tikhon, Bishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania, was personally on the scene within an hour of the blaze, offering his hierarchical and spiritual support to the parish. That afternoon, His Grace held a meeting with the pastor and the Church Committee to discuss the direction the parish would need to take over the next months as the damage was evaluated and repairs and restorations were planned. Many of the icons were destroyed or severely damaged from flames, high temperatures, smoke and water and the altar area also sustained severe damage.

On Monday, March 6, the State Police Fire Marshall ruled that the fire had been started accidentally. Later that week, His Grace Bishop Tikhon, together with Father Paul, other local clergy and the faithful of the parish, held a service of intercession for the beginning of the work of cleaning and restoration. This work is expected to take several months and in the meantime, the Divine Services are being held temporarily in the hall beneath the Church.

During the Lenten Season, His Grace sent out a pastoral letter to the clergy and faithful of Eastern Pennsylvania announcing that a special collection would be taken on Palm Sunday so that the entire Diocese could offer its spiritual and financial support to All Saints in their time of need. On Bright Tuesday, as the diocesan clergy and faithful gathered at St. Tikhon's Monastery for the celebration of the Paschal Liturgy, His Grace was pleased to announce a very favorable response to the appeal with over 90% of the parishes responding to date.

On the Sunday of All Saints, the patronal feast of the parish, His Grace, Bishop Tikhon served the Divine Liturgy and presented Father Paul and the Church Committee with a total of $28,000 as a gift from the parishes of the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania. From this response, it is clear that this disaster has brought out the good will and and love of the entire Diocese and has energized the faithful of All Saints in their desire to rebuild and restore their temple. It is our prayer that, by the Grace of God and with the support of Orthodox Christians everywhere, the Church will be restored to its former glory and that the faithful will become a stronger and more vibrant community of the Orthodox Church in America.

All Saints Church is covered by Insurance Systems Agency, a provider for risk management and insurance services uniquely tailored to Churches. Pasonick Engineering of Wilkes-Barre has been retained by the parish to oversee the rebuilding of the Church."

- Very Reverend John Kowalczyk
Chancellor, Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania