St. John Climacus Orthodox Church in Greenville caught fire on March 7 after being struck by lightning. According to reports from the Orthodox Church in America, the lightning hit the roof, resulting in the burning of the ceiling.

The damage affected the church's interior, including murals created by parishioner and artist Seraphim O'Keefe. The iconography and portions of the interior will require restoration. Despite the harm suffered, the parish's liturgical life will continue as announced on the church's social media.

The St. John Climacus community is recognized as one of the fastest-growing Orthodox congregations in the region, with a significant increase in attendance over recent years; more than 500 individuals gather for services on weekends.

The community's history dates back to the 1980s when Orthodox Christians established a missionary parish for English-speaking believers. In the 2010s, the congregation moved to a newly constructed building designed in Byzantine style by church architect Andrew Gould. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the parish has continued its rapid growth and has become a notable center of Orthodox life in the southeastern United States.