Historic Quebec Church Destroyed by Fire

The historic Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Allégresses Catholic church in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, was destroyed by a fire on October 3, resulting in the complete collapse of the roof and damage to one of the bell towers. The fire, which left no injuries reported as the church was empty, has raised concerns due to previous incidents of church arsons across Canada, particularly following revelations about residential school burial sites. Local developer Georges Mouradian had plans to convert the church into residential units, but construction is now on hold pending an investigation into the fire's cause, which remains undetermined. Meanwhile, Christian organizations are responding to the upcoming anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war by promoting prayer and political action, reflecting on the ongoing conflict's impact on both Palestinian and Israeli communities. In a separate incident, the Panagia of Refuges church in Greece was also destroyed by fire, prompting sorrow among local residents and highlighting the vulnerability of historic religious sites.