On the 19th anniversary of the terror attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center and numerous buildings in the area, a memorial service was held at the construction site where St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church is currently under construction.
Families clutched photos of sons and daughters who perished in the attacks as Archbishop Elpidophoros of America led the memorial service in front of the massive incomplete domed structure which will become the new St. Nicholas National Shrine.
The original church– located just a few hundred feet away from the new location, was built by Greek immigrants almost a century ago and was flattened by the falling rubble of the South Tower on the morning of September 11, 2001.
A long string of delays including financial and bureaucratic wrangling with local and state officials appear to be over and despite the Coronavirus pandemic, which further led to delays, construction is now moving forward.
Fr. Evagoras Constantinides, spokesperson of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, gave a tour to the local CBS News channel in New York in the video below.
In addition to serving the local Greek Orthodox community as a parish of the Archdiocese, which includes families of the original founders, St. Nicholas has been designated as a National Shrine of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
The facility will include a non-denominational bereavement center for people from all faith backgrounds to visit and pray, according to John Catsimatidis, one of the founders of “Friends of St. Nicholas,” which helped raise almost $50 million for the completion of the Church.
CBS News on St. Nicholas:
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3 comments
A sad day in remembrance for the small Greek Orthodox Church destroyed by the anti-christ terriorist events of September 11, 2001, 19 years ago. Equally sad is that the St. Calatrava Shrine, will become a Shrine to all faiths and denominations. One which the Greek Orthodox will bare responsibility for the upkeep, maintenance and taxes. A globalist Mosque mind you, paid for by many generous hardworking and wealthy Christian Orthodox faithful several times over only to have the funds ‘misappropriated’, stolen and used for other nefarious purposes is just a bit disingenuous.
The fact that only a a dozen people appear to be in attendance is yet another revelation of its unpopularity and eventual demise.
At last something wonderful AB did remembering Greek Orthodox who perished on 9/11.
But please, somebody tell Archbishop many, many Orthodox are disgusted & horrified with what he did last June, marching with Hate group BLM — that was a monumental mistake! Elpi is so naive; he just doesn’t understand what’s going on around him. BLM calls out for murder of our Police Force, BLM is a hateful, violent bunch of anarchists destroying America. Frankly Elpidoforos is No Archbishop Iakovos & dear God, it’s not the 60’s!
Elpidoforos also ruined a long tradition of Orthodox Archbishops attending both Republican & Democrat conventions by not being welcomed at Republican convention. He so disgusted conservatives with his inappropriate slobbering over Joe Biden, who’s political platform is against ALL that’s Eastern Orthodox, that he lost favor & was not welcomed.
His genesis being a foreigner from the sheltered, monastic world of Istanbul just doesn’t help him understand America — but it’s not his job to meddle in politics or riots, he needs to stand for our Faith & he’s failed …
After listening to many clergymen & laity voice their frustrations with Elpi, I predict he will step down by next year
On the surface this appears to be an event we can support and feel good about. Everyone should have a place to grieve, to gather, to worship.
But for people who are not superficial and desire a deeper faith, the true faith, the faith that leads to salvation, to eternal life, this is heresy. There is only one Truth. There can be many lies but there can only be one truth. That’s the one holy, catholic, apostolic church, the Orthodox Christian Faith.
This is unpopular In our culture of “tolerance and equality” but the truth is there is one way to salvation and that way has been distorted over the years. One of the most destructive distortions is ecumenism. The thought that all paths lead to God. If we believe all pathslead to God, this disables us from discerning false paths. Just what Satan wants, us unable to see the Truth.
But we don’t want to be labeled mean or judgmental or intolerant, so let’s just go along with the story above. All is well.