“Upon This Rock I Will Rebuild My Church.” Matthew 16:18 Genesis of a Resurrection
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“Upon this rock I will rebuild my church.” Matthew 16:18 Genesis of a Resurrection To Your Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, most honorable Exarch in the U.S.A, our beloved brother in the Holy Spirit and dear co-celebrant: grace be with you and peace from God. With keen and paternal interest we have paid close attention to the journey of the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church at Ground Zero, from the darkest moments of the horrific terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, to this present joy-filled moment. At that time, our heart was broken with nearly inconsolable grief, because so many beloved human beings were no more. Indeed, even now we recall with great emotion our visit some years ago to Ground Zero, where we joined our fervent prayers with those of the faithful whose own prayers were mingled with tears and great compassion for one another. Now, thanks to the infinite mercy of God and the collective efforts of the faithful of the Holy Archdiocese of America, we have cause to rejoice that the shrine of the holy patron of this Church, Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, will emerge for the ages at the historic location known as Ground Zero. For truly, Saint Nicholas, who hailed from the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s region of Myra in Watercolors & Sketchs by Santiago Calatrava Asia Minor, belongs to the world, and it is fitting and right that this Shrine to his name be rebuilt. Our Holy Mother Church com- memorates Saint Nicholas as “a model of living faith and an image of humble grace,” and we know that this presence will most surely The original St. And most importantly imbue all who visit the rebuilt Church at the memorial site of the Nicholas Greek Orthodox for Saint Nicholas, the World Trade Center. Church cast a reverent only house of worship and faithful shadow on destroyed on 9/11, the It is God our Heavenly Father Who transforms through active the World Trade Center. Archbishop inaugurated faith, enduring patience and limitless love our painful loss over Greeks purchased the a dialogue with then Gov- the victims and heroes of that fateful day. Now, with the building row house in 1892 as a ernor George Pataki to of this magnificent shrine, there will be a House of Prayer for these community home, and it rebuild the church. noble souls to be continuously and prayerfully remembered, and became the Saint Nicho- there will be a House of Consolation for those who survived and las Church in 1916. For In the years follow- are bereft of their loved ones. many Greeks immigrants, ing, as the rebuilding of it would have been their the World Trade Center Dearest brother, we wholeheartedly congratulate you and first stop after seeing the took shape, there were all those who contributed to the inspiration and creation of this Statue of Liberty and dis- challenges to keep the unique structure. The design is a tribute to the glorious beauty embarking from Ellis Is- Photo by: Grisha Ressetar Church as a priority for of Orthodox Christianity, of Hagia Sophia and Chora, as well as land. The little church was the site (16 acres), since an acknowledgment of the present reality of a cosmopolis in the a spiritual jewel, open to it was virtually a sliver a twenty-first century. May countless pilgrims gather here in peace all. Generations of New Yorkers stopped land. Due to changes at the site, it was pro- and concord, to recall the past with reverence and envisage the in to light a candle, say a prayer, or just posed that the Church be relocated to 130 future with hope. sit quietly. Liberty Street, a short walk from its original location. Even when negotiations stalled, At the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the 11th of October, 2013 Everything changed on 9/11. Saint governmental authorities always affirmed Your Eminence’s beloved brother in Christ, Nicholas was completely destroyed in the the right of the Church to be rebuilt. collapse of World Trade Center Tower Two during the September 11, 2001 When New York Governor Andrew terrorist attacks. During the weeks and Cuomo took office, a new opportu- months that followed, the Archbishop nity arose to meet the impasse. His office presided over numerous funerals and mediated settlement discussions that BARTHOLOMEW memorials for the many Greek Orthodox confirmed the site at 130 Liberty Street. Archbishop of Constantinople–New Rome Christians who died that fateful day. He Following the signing of an agreement, and Ecumenical Patriarch participated in interfaith and ecumenical presided over by the Archbishop and the events, at city, state and national levels. Governor, the Archdiocese commenced NOVEMBER 2013 • Vol. 78 • No. 1290 www.observer.goarch.org • e-mail: [email protected] $1.00 in this issue Archdiocese, St. Nicholas Church Help typhoon victims Archdiocese establishes fund to help Establish victims of the Philippines typhoon. • P.3 National Shrine Rising from ashes at Ground Zero Everyone will soon have a spiritual home under a magnificent dome. NEW YORK – A major step for- • P. 3 ward relating to progress on St. Nicholas Church at Ground Zero took place Nov. 10 at a duly-called parish as- SF shows support sembly meeting when the community San Francisco Metropolis holds major unanimously approved a resolution to fund-raiser to support “The Crown 1 make the church a national shrine of Jewel of the Archdiocese.” The response the Archdiocese. is very generous. The action had the full support of • P. 4 the parish priest, Fr. John Romas and the parish council. This advance in the Metropolitan speaks out nature of the only house of worship Metropolitan Methodios speaks out destroyed by the terrorist attacks of about the crisis in contemporary society September 11, 2001 has momentous and what Orthodox Christians can do near and long-term significance for about it. the parish. The resolution provides • P. 6 for the parish to maintain its status as a parish and continue to function as such, while the Board of Trustees The National what? would have a national as well as a Discover what the National Ministries Moscow Patriarchate photo local presence. The resolution also are and what they do. includes the final agreement of the par- • P.8 ish to exchange its land at 155 Cedar St. (including air and ground rights) for 130 Liberty St. The new parcel, A tent event 2 although less than 50 yards from the Church overcoming recent fire as previous location, is more than three it holds successful feast day vespers times larger. under a tent. The Archdiocese and the parish • P.10 had always seen that such an evolution for this historic parish of Manhattan A warning to teens was the logical next step. Not only Stay away from this “Molly.” Also, some is the mission and presence of St. concerts shouldn’t have “rave” reviews. Nicholas at Ground Zero a national • P.11 undertaking, but also likewise are the costs and responsibilities. In his exhortation to the commu- Visiting Thessaloniki nity, Archbishop Demetrios stressed Ecumenical Patriarch and Archbishop the enormous visibility of the rebuilt Demetrios mark feast day Church, adding that more than 10 mil- • Greek section. lion visitors to the World Trade Center • P.13 site per year would see and perhaps enter the new Sanctuary. He noted 3 that as a National Shrine, St. Nicholas Dimitrios Panagos photos would welcome all and be a house of prayer for all people. (1) Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew receives an honorary Doctorate from the University of His Eminence said, “This church Macedonia in Thessaloniki. (2) His All Holiness is greeted by two Greek army o cers during his will not be just a national shrine, but visit to Military Hospital 424 in the city. (3) At the Monastery of the Kimisis tis Theotokou outside of also an international shrine. It will the city where the patriarch performed an agiasmo, two nuns present Archbishop Demetrios with show the will of all people to rebuild some organically grown fruit. The monastery is known for its pioneering e orts in growing fruits and resurrect from the ashes of 9/11. and vegetables organically. This will be a church for all to light a candle for the beloved that were lost on September 11. This church will be Ecumenical Patriarch, Archbishop Visit Thessaloniki a Greek Orthodox National Shrine on Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, and other Hierarchs. The visit followed the Hallowed, Sacred Ground.” accompanied by Archbishop Demetrios, Ecumenical Patriarch’s trip to Mount Athos. Community members expressed visited the Holy Metropolis of Thessaloniki In addition to the Archbishop, the great satisfaction, relief and apprecia- Oct. 22–26. On the feast day of St. Deme- patriarchal delegation included Metropoli- tion that the Archbishop led the pro- trios, the patron saint of Thessaloniki, His tans Gennadios of Italy and Germanos of cess of rebuilding from the beginning, Athena Syregelas and her classmates learn All Holiness presided at the Patriarchal Tranoupolis, as well as Grand Archdeacon and for shepherding the project. their ABC’s and more at this Arizona school. Divine Liturgy in the historic church of Maximos, Second Patriarchal Deacon An- Construction will begin early • P.23 St. Demetrios with Archbishop Demetrios next year. concelebrating the liturgy with the Patriarch uu to page 2 2 ARCHDIOCESE NEWS NOVEMBER 2013 To contact Encyclical National Ministries Archives Thanksgiving Day 212.570.3517 Have no anxiety about anything, with prayer and supplication. We turn to [email protected] but in everything God. We seek His will and His guidance. by prayer and supplication We overcome the fear of the unknown with Communications with thanksgiving prayer of the heart.