Roof Collapses at Fairfax County Church After Heavy Snow

St. George Tigrai Orthodox Tewahdo Church suffers major damage, leaving congregation without a place to worship.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 8:15pm

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The roof of St. George Tigrai Orthodox Tewahdo Church in Fairfax County, Virginia collapsed due to the weight of heavy snow and ice, causing significant damage to the building. The congregation of around 200 members is now left without a place to hold their services, though they plan to meet virtually this Sunday.

Why it matters

The collapse of the church roof highlights the dangers of extreme winter weather and the strain it can place on aging infrastructure. This incident has disrupted the lives of the congregation, who view the church as an important community hub, and raises questions about the preparedness of local buildings to withstand heavy snow and ice.

The details

The roof collapse occurred at the St. George Tigrai Orthodox Tewahdo Church in the Mount Vernon area of Fairfax County, near Richmond Highway. Preliminary investigations by the county fire department suggest the strain from the weight of the snow and ice was the cause of the collapse. Church leaders had noticed a small crack in the ceiling on Saturday night and were in the process of getting it checked out when the full collapse happened.

  • The roof collapse occurred on February 4, 2026.
  • Church leaders noticed a small crack in the ceiling on February 2, 2026.

The players

St. George Tigrai Orthodox Tewahdo Church

An Ethiopian congregation of about 200 members that opened the church's doors in 2020. The church is an important community hub for the congregation.

Archbishop Abba Athanasius

A leader of the St. George Tigrai Orthodox Tewahdo Church congregation.

Deacon Berekat Aboi

A member of the St. George Tigrai Orthodox Tewahdo Church congregation who expressed the importance of the church to the community.

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What they’re saying

“I'm very shocked, the collapse of our church. So, I'm deeply hurt and very sad, but thank God nobody was hurt.”

— Archbishop Abba Athanasius (nbcwashington.com)

“I have a lot of stress out there. But the only place I feel better – the joy when it comes to this church, not only me, our church community, you know, the kids, the teens and the youth choirs.”

— Deacon Berekat Aboi, Church Member (nbcwashington.com)

What’s next

Church leaders are working with their insurance company to determine the next steps for repairing or rebuilding the church. They are also in the process of setting up an online fundraiser to help cover the costs.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the vulnerability of aging infrastructure to extreme winter weather events, and the importance of proactive maintenance and preparedness to protect critical community spaces like places of worship. The resilience of the congregation in the face of this disruption is also noteworthy, as they plan to continue holding services virtually until they can find a new physical location.