CCI Responds to Fire at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral

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CCI Newsletter, No. 26, November 2000

CCI Responds to Fire at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral

by Robert Arnold and Peter Vogel, Senior Conservators, Treatment and Development Division - Fine Arts

Figure 1

Interior of Greek Orthodox Cathedral after fire.

Figure 2

Recovery and clean-up operations in progress.

Figure 3

Iconostasis, altar area, after fire.

Figure 4

Apostle icon from iconostasis, altar area.

Toronto's Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Virgin Mary, Annunciation and Dormition1 was destroyed by fire in the early morning of April 3, 2000. CCI was subsequently asked to provide advice on the recovery and restoration of a large number of icon paintings and other religious artifacts that had been damaged in the fire.

Fire marshals would not allow us access to the building until the following week. We arrived on the scene on Monday, April 10, and met with Father Peter Avgeropoulos and Mr. Chris Geronikolos of the Greek Community Association of Metropolitan Toronto to assess the damage. The fire had completely gutted the main nave and altar area of the church, and had caused the large domed roof above these areas to collapse. A number of icons and furnishings were damaged to varying degrees. Recovery and clean-up operations had already begun, and over the next 3 days we provided advice and assistance as this work progressed.

Icons and other furnishings were relocated to a warehouse where they were examined, photographed, and assessed as to their conservation/restoration needs. Most (if not all) of these icons had been painted in the 1960s or 1970s, and were likely copied from images of older icons. Despite their recent origin they were excellent examples of their craft, and well worth preserving.

We provided a report outlining the condition and conservation needs of 41 icons; 36 of these were treatable but 5 had suffered such extensive damage that we considered them unrecoverable. Treatment needs ranged from simple surface cleaning to complex treatments such as linings, consolidation of blistered and flaking paint, and replacement of missing sections of canvas and composition. To prevent further paint loss until such time as treatment work could be carried out, protective facings of fine tissue paper (adhered in place with animal glue) were applied to the severely blistered and flaking paint of six small icons of the apostles that had been removed from the iconostasis of the altar area.

We also made recommendations about the removal and storage of other furnishings, as well as a number of murals painted on canvas and adhered directly to the plaster walls on the lower level of the nave. We anticipate that most of the restoration work will be carried out by private-sector conservators in the Toronto area.

This coordinated response of various authorities and expertise has served to limit the loss and damage from this tragic fire. As the necessary restoration work is completed, it is hoped that these icons and other furnishings will once again be available for the appreciation and enjoyment of visitors to the Cathedral.


  1. The Cathedral is located at 136 Sorauren Avenue in downtown Toronto. It had been built in 1911 as an Anglican church, and was acquired by the Greek Community Association of Metropolitan Toronto in 1961.