The National Cathedral is seeking donations to repair two chapels vandalized by green paint.
“For the first time since the 2011 earthquake, Washington National Cathedral sustained unexpected and heartbreaking damage on Monday, July 29, when a vandal splattered green paint in two historic chapels,” a message on the Cathedral’s website says. The campaign to repair the Bethlehem and Children’s Chapels is called, “Restoring the Symbol of Faith.”
Jia Tian, also identified by authorities as Jiamei Tian, is accused of vandalizing an organ and altarpiece at the Cathedral and implicated in the damage done with green paint at the Lincoln Memorial. At a hearing Friday, two law enforcement officials testified to seeing Tian, who authorities believe is homeless, in the Children’s Chapel with green paint on her person.
Request for comment from the Cathedral’s spokesperson about the estimated cost of repairs has not been returned. Metropolitan Police Department officer Chris Carkeek testified Friday that a Cathedral security officer said the damage would cost around $18,000 to repair. The Cathedral places that number at $15,000
Tian was released to a halfway house on Friday. She will next appear in court on Aug. 29.