LYNNWOOD – From 60 feet above the floor, the image of Jesus Christ – his palms turned upward at his sides – looks down on the pews inside St. Mary’s Coptic Orthodox Church.
Set against a blue backdrop with golden stars, the mural spans the interior of the church’s signature exterior copper dome. The mural includes paintings of angels, his disciples and the authors of the Gospels.
A small hole near Jesus’ right elbow is the only sign of a fire that ravaged the church’s dome Tuesday.
“It could have been a lot worse,” said Tony Makari, 18, as he looked up at the mural Wednesday. “It’s good they stopped it when they could.”
It’s too early to know whether the giant dome atop the Coptic church will have to be rebuilt in the aftermath of the fire, which investigators believe was caused by a roofing accident, Snohomish County Fire District 1 spokeswoman Leslie Hynes said.
The roofer was working with a propane torch when he heard crackling sounds. He peeled back a panel of the roof and saw flames, then called 911, Hynes said.
Workers spent Wednesday removing carpeting, books, furnishings, art and other items from the waterlogged church. Meanwhile, firefighters used a ladder truck to climb up and put tarps over two gaping holes in the copper dome – a responsibility that’s usually left to insurance companies.
“It’s an unusual building to do, and we’ve got the tools and the guys to do it,” Snohomish County Fire District 1 Battalion Chief Scott Schroeder said.
Members of the church held Wednesday’s liturgy outside in the parking lot. It could be several months before they’re allowed to hold services inside, said Aziz Makari, Tony Makari’s father.
“We’re lucky we didn’t have rain today,” Aziz Makari said.
The Coptic Church is a Christian faith originating in Egypt and is based on the Gospels of Jesus’ disciples.
The church hopes to carry on with scheduled services, said the Rev. Arsenius Shaker, the church priest.
“I think everything is OK,” he said.
Until the building is repaired, services may be held in a tent on the property or in rented space somewhere else, church leaders said.
Tony Makari said he learned about the fire Tuesday when a friend sent him an instant message as he checked his e-mail.
Then his friend e-mailed him a picture from a news helicopter of smoke billowing from the dome.
On Wednesday, Tony Makari was optimistic the dome could be repaired and that the mural inside would be preserved.
“When we pray, sometimes we forget how beautiful the building is,” he said.
Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.
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