By Linda Taaffe

One wouldn’t think parishioners at the Antiochian Orthodox Church of the Redeemer would have much to celebrate on the first anniversary after an arsonist destroyed their Los Altos church. But much like Dr. Seuss’ residents of Whoville who wouldn’t allow the Grinch to destroy their spirit, parishioners found reason to celebrate Sunday.

They held a feast in front of the empty dirt patch where their church once stood; sang and rejoiced during a special prayer service; and even went as far as to describe their recovery as a joyous process.

“The church is us, here together,” Father Samer Bahou said.

About 200 community members overflowed the courtyard where services have been held in rain and heat under a tarp for the past year. About a dozen people had to crowd outside the door.

Sunday’s event marked a new direction that brought parishioners closer to reconstruction than to last year’s mysterious two-alarm blaze that gutted the church on Magadalena Road, Father Samer said.

Plans to build a new church are scheduled to start this year, he said. Church members cleared the final debris from the site last November and met with Caltrans and Los Altos city officials in February to review site plans. Architect John Miller is scheduled to design the new $2.1 million building.

The Santa Clara County Fire Department announced plans to increase the $35,000 reward as part of a renewed effort to find the person responsible for setting the fire. Investigators still have no leads or suspects.

Chief Ben Lopes said the investigation was a top priority.

“It has not been an easy path but we have prevailed and we have pulled together with God’s guidance and support and we have persevered,” said parishioner Henry Veizades. “We have established a new path and we have defined a new direction. A year has come and gone. A year that we will not forget not because of our loss but because it has been a year of fundamental change for all of us.”