Coptic Orthodox Church in British Columbia Destroyed in ‘Suspicious’ Fire

A Coptic Orthodox church in British Columbia was destroyed in a fire on Monday, July 19, just days after an attempted arson attack damaged the church’s door. The remains of St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in Surrey were almost entirely demolished, with only a single wall left standing. No one was reported injured in the fire.

Local police were alerted to the fire around 3:17 a.m. on Monday. Authorities have not yet declared the fire to be arson, though Surrey Royal Canadian Mounted Police deemed it “suspicious.” The debris needed to cool before investigators could determine the cause. Surrey Assistant Fire Chief Shelley Morris told the Vancouver Sun that “we just have to wait for the hotspots to be put out before we can go in and do a proper investigation.”

Bishop Mina of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Mississauga, Vancouver and Western Canada issued a statement on Monday, saying, “While today is a day of sadness, we will not be deterred and we will rebuild. Our church will always be open for all and continue to be a beacon of light and hope for all in our community.” Archbishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox Church in London also expressed sadness over the incident on Twitter.

The church was built in 1960 and had previously been the target of an attempted arson on July 14. Surveillance footage captured a woman appearing to set fire to the church’s door that night. The suspect, who has not yet been identified, was described by police as a Caucasian woman, 5’7 tall, with a heavy-set build, dark hair, and wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, a black tank top, black tights with a flower print, and black flip flops. Surrey police said the two fires were “suspicious,” but added there is currently no evidence linking the two separate investigations.

Bishop Mina called the timing of Monday’s fire “more than circumstantial,” raising questions about the protection of the church, especially following the earlier attack. He urged provincial leaders to “immediately and expeditiously conclude this investigation.” The incident comes amid a series of Catholic and Christian church burnings in Canada, following the disclosure of a report by the RCMP.

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