Lightning strike leaves cross missing from Tampere Orthodox Church dome

Tampere's Orthodox Church still has its highest dome without its cross after a July lightning strike ignited a fire during a wedding service, forcing firefighters to cut open the copper-clad dome and remove the cross, YLE reports.

Parish leaders say the work has been delayed. The job is technically demanding and only a few contractors undertake it, so the parish has launched a new tender round.

Whether the dome can be detached and repaired in a workshop will affect both method and price, because the copper cladding must be renewed.

Vicar Aleksei Sjöberg said locals have contacted the parish with concerns about further damage. He reassured them the watertight roof beneath the dome prevents any immediate risk to the church interior.

The July blaze drew heavy rescue resources on a busy summer weekend. It did not spread to other structures, and damaged alarm and electrical systems were repaired quickly.

The parish hopes work can begin this autumn. The repair work follows the July lightning strike that started a fire in the church tower but remained confined to the dome.