The Claim and the Video
A video that circulated online in August 2025 claimed to show a cross catching on fire during a Mass service at St. Michael’s Church in Dallas, Texas. According to the video’s narrator, the incident occurred on June 15, 2025, and was captured by security cameras. The clip, which gained over 5.5 million views across platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok, described a dramatic event where a large wooden cross suddenly ignited, forming a human silhouette in the middle of the service.
The video’s narration described how the flames appeared for less than three seconds, creating an image resembling the crucified Christ. Afterward, the fire disappeared without leaving any burn marks. Firefighters reportedly found the cross intact. The narrator suggested this could be one of the signs mentioned in the Bible, specifically referencing Luke 21:11, which talks about great signs from heaven.
However, multiple red flags raised doubts about the authenticity of the video. A reverse-image search revealed that the clip had been shared by several users on different platforms. Further analysis showed inconsistencies in the video, such as differences in the size of the cross and other elements in the church setting, including statues and chandeliers. These discrepancies indicated that the video may have been fabricated using artificial intelligence tools.
No Evidence of the Incident
Despite the claims made in the video, no credible news outlets in Dallas or elsewhere reported any such event occurring in 2025. A search on major search engines like Bing, DuckDuckGo, Google, and Yahoo found no evidence of a cross catching fire at St. Michael’s Church in Dallas. If the event had truly taken place, it would have likely been widely covered by media outlets globally.
Additionally, the video’s narrator claimed that security cameras captured the entire incident. However, the footage shown in the video only appears to be from a parishioner’s handheld camera or smartphone, with no visible security camera footage. This lack of verified evidence further casts doubt on the authenticity of the story.
The Church and the Video’s Setting
The video also claimed the event took place at St. Michael’s Church in Dallas. However, a search for churches with that name found only one matching the description: Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church. A photo of the church’s sanctuary, posted on its Facebook page, does not match the appearance of the location shown in the video. This discrepancy suggests that the video may not have been filmed at the church it claims to represent.
The Origin of the Video
The original post of the video appeared on TikTok under the account @retolamysusnoticias on July 20, 2025. The clip, which received over 11.7 million views, featured a puppet and a Spanish-language narrator telling a similar story. The Daily Faith Ministry’s version of the video appears to have been edited on top of the puppet footage. A caption in the original TikTok post claimed that the Vatican demanded to know how the fire started, though no evidence supported this claim.
The @retolamysusnoticias account has also shared other AI-generated videos, including a man turning into a goat, a lion walking the street in Detroit, scientists finding the city of Atlantis, and an exorcism. These videos suggest a pattern of creating fictional content using AI tools.
Conclusion
While the video sparked widespread interest and discussion, the evidence points to it being a fabrication created using artificial intelligence. The inconsistencies in the video, the lack of credible news coverage, and the origin of the clip all support the conclusion that the event did not occur as described. As with many viral stories, this one highlights the importance of verifying sources and being cautious of content that spreads quickly online.
