On Friday September 10, religious leaders gathered for a fire-lighting ceremony and memorial service at the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas.
The church is being built to replace the one that was destroyed as a result 9/11 attacks…
Built in 1916, the Cathedral of St. Nicholas on this site was crushed by debris that fell from one of the twin towers of the World Trade Center.
Archbishop of America Elpidophoros wrote on his social network:
We open our hearts to embrace those who mourn, who are blessed to receive comfort. We remember all who were forever changed on 9/11: first responders and construction crews, who gave so much, lost in later years to disease and hardships. May they all rest in peace. # September11 pic.twitter.com/YJHOLIemoD
– Elpidophoros (@Elpidophoros) September 11, 2021
“We open our hearts to embrace those who grieve, who are blessed to receive comfort. We remember everyone who changed forever after 9/11: first responders and construction crews who donated so much that they lost many of them in the years that followed. – for illness and deprivation. May they all rest in peace. “
St Nicholas stands before you today to tell the world that light will always shine on through the darkness, and the darkness will never overcome it! Faith will always triumph over doubt. Hope will always vanquish despair. And love will always conquer hate. # September11 pic.twitter.com/EHvkAP27te
– Elpidophoros (@Elpidophoros) September 11, 2021
“Saint Nicholas stands before you today to tell the world that light will always shine through darkness, and darkness will never overcome him! Faith always conquers doubt. Hope always conquers despair. And love always conquers hate.”
The construction of the temple is expected to be completed by 4th July 2022.
The church is located in a small park and faces the World Trade Center Memorial Square with reflective pools that show where the Twin Towers once stood.
The temple was designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, inspired by sources such as Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. A tribute to the fallen rescuers and other depictions of 9/11 have been integrated into its design.
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