St. Nicholas National Shrine at Ground Zero
The Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in lower Manhattan was destroyed in the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 when almost three thousand of our fellow citizens lost their lives in the annihilation of the World Trade Center. This horrific tragedy affected all Americans across this great nation. Our small Church was the only religious house that fell during this act of terrorism. Now, the Church, which will be known as the Saint Nicholas National Shrine at Ground Zero is being resurrected on hallowed ground bearing witness to the victory of Christ over evil, death and destruction. It will unite those who believe in the power of love, hope and faith.
His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, in his letter dated May 9, 2014, asked for our beneficent “army” to unite in a special campaign of altruistic love and assist in the extraordinary resurrection of the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at Ground Zero. His Eminence appealed to each of us in each of our Chapters to prayerfully consider an offering of $100 per Philoptochos steward to this campaign.
At the 2014 National Philoptochos Biennial Convention in Philadelphia, the over 400 Philoptochos Delegates representing their Chapters from throughout the United States overwhelmingly and resolutely supported the appeal of our beloved Archbishop and the Holy Eparchial Synod to resurrect the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at Ground Zero. A beautiful expression of joy thundered through the hall when the Philoptochos Convention Delegates stood and exclaimed in unison “Yes!”
The Philoptochos mission states that we are to “preserve and perpetuate Orthodox Christian concepts” and to “promote the Greek Orthodox Faith”. As “doers of the word,” and with love in our hearts, let us humbly offer $100 each, or any portion thereof that you can support, in memory of those who lost their lives and those who sacrificed much, to make this vision real. I respectfully appeal to you to please set aside $1.50 per week for 15 months to raise the suggested $100 per member. We are mindful that you will receive many requests to support this lofty goal, thus Philoptochos is asking for this small commitment from you, our Philoptochos Sister.
With the Lord’s blessing, the goal is to rebuild, furnish and endow this new Church by 2016, the 100th anniversary of the original Parish of Saint Nicholas. The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, the backbone of our Parishes, must play a vital role in this sacred mission! Together let us rebuild Saint Nicholas for all future generations, and for the many millions of people who will visit every year the new World Trade Center, the National September 11 Memorial Museum and our National Shrine, the only house of worship at Ground Zero.
Please give prayerful consideration and support this worthy cause. Let the victory of Christ over death be a visible beacon in the resurrected Saint Nicholas Church and His peace, love and hope be witnessed through this National Shrine.
Download the St. Nicholas National Shrine Brochure
Visit the National Philoptochos Web page