Fairfax Church Left Without Prayer Space After Roof Collapse

Snow-covered roof failure forces congregation to find temporary worship space

Feb. 4, 2026 at 7:55pm

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A Northern Virginia church, the St. George Tigrai Orthodox Tewahdo Church in Mt. Vernon, is scrambling to find a new place for its congregation to gather and pray after the roof of its recently purchased building collapsed earlier this week due to heavy snow. No one was injured, but the church's finance coordinator says the walls are now leaning forward and the building is likely beyond repair, leaving over 100 Ethiopian congregants without a permanent worship space.

Why it matters

The collapse of the church's roof highlights the challenges religious organizations can face in maintaining aging or newly acquired buildings, especially in regions prone to extreme winter weather. The loss of this community gathering space also disrupts the regular worship and social activities of the church's congregation, many of whom have limited options for finding alternative venues.

The details

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue responded to the partially collapsed two-story commercial building on Monday evening, finding roof and floor failure. The church's finance and administration coordinator, Ayalneh Berhe, said the main building's walls are now 'leaning forward towards the front' in addition to the collapsed roof, making it unlikely the structure can be repaired. All religious materials, computers, and instruments inside the building remain inaccessible as building engineers inspect the damage.

  • On Monday around 5:20 p.m., first responders were called to the scene of the partially collapsed building.
  • The church purchased the space in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The players

St. George Tigrai Orthodox Tewahdo Church

A Northern Virginia church with over 100 Ethiopian congregants that recently purchased a new building as a worship space.

Ayalneh Berhe

The finance and administration coordinator for the St. George Tigrai Orthodox Tewahdo Church.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue

The local fire department that responded to the partially collapsed building on Monday evening.

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What they’re saying

“We don't have any place to pray, to do our prayers. We are looking at options.”

— Ayalneh Berhe, Finance and Administration Coordinator, St. George Tigrai Orthodox Tewahdo Church (WTOP)

“People are calling us to know the story, what happened. And we'll see. We'll settle anywhere who provides us space temporarily. Eventually, we want our church to be rebuilt and resume our function there.”

— Ayalneh Berhe, Finance and Administration Coordinator, St. George Tigrai Orthodox Tewahdo Church (WTOP)

What’s next

Building engineers will be tasked with inspecting the damaged church structure to determine if it can be repaired or will need to be rebuilt entirely. The church has launched a fundraiser to help cover the costs from the incident and is actively searching for a temporary worship space to accommodate its congregation.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the importance of proper building maintenance and preparedness for extreme weather events, especially for religious organizations that rely on their physical spaces for community gatherings and worship. The St. George Tigrai Orthodox Tewahdo Church's situation also highlights the resilience of faith communities in finding ways to come together despite unexpected challenges.