Georgia Bulletin

The Newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta

Photo By Allen Kinzly
The Epiphany Byzantine Catholic Church in Roswell recently reopened for worship. It was damaged in an arson fire in late 2014. Church members during worship face the icon screen, which stands before the altar.

Roswell

Epiphany Byzantine Church reopens after fire

Published July 23, 2015

ROSWELL—Six months after a fire wrecked their spiritual home, members of the Epiphany Byzantine Catholic Church have settled back into their church.

The Roswell faith community of Epiphany Byzantine Catholic Church recently celebrated the completion of the church’s refurbishment. The outside of the wooden church, which is built in the tripartite style, was damaged by arson. Photo By Allen Kinzly

The Roswell faith community of Epiphany Byzantine Catholic Church recently celebrated the completion of the church’s refurbishment. The outside of the wooden church, which is built in the tripartite style, was damaged by arson. Photo By Allen Kinzly

On June 7, the community in Roswell celebrated a liturgy in the refurbished church for the first time since the December arson. The church is at 2030 Old Alabama Road.

The community gathered for months for its Sunday worship at Regina Caeli Academy after authorities deemed the church building too damaged.

“Our parish family wishes to extend our sincerest gratitude to everyone at Regina Caeli Academy for your kindness and generosity during this period of time. Your acts of compassion were a shining light in the midst of our difficulties,” said the parish website.

Epiphany is a church of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy (diocese) of Passaic, New Jersey, and is the only Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic church in Georgia. The parish has 160 registered families

Authorities in Roswell charged the suspect with disorderly conduct and first-degree arson. He entered a guilty plea and was to undergo a mental health evaluation.