Greek Orthodox Church officials have gathered in lower Manhattan for a blessing of the site where a church that was destroyed in the Sept. 11 terror attacks will be rebuilt.
The ceremony is being held Saturday near the redeveloped World Trade Center site.
The tiny St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church was the only house of worship destroyed when the twin towers collapsed on Sept. 11, 2001.
A $38 million, domed alabaster sanctuary will replace its modest 19th-century predecessor — a tiny four-story building toppled by the collapse of the South Tower.
Designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, the Byzantine-style structure is scheduled for completion in 2016.
Officials said they have collected donations from around the world, including $260,000 from the Greek government, as well as Greek Orthodox parishes throughout the US.
“After 13 years of tremendous non-stopping, non-sleeping efforts . . . we start the process for the resurrection of the church,” said Archbishop Demetrios, the leader of the Greek Orthodox church in the US.
The congregation was founded in 1916 by Greek immigrants, who held services at a tavern-turned-church at 155 Cedar St.
[youtube]hNAk9NGUu2E[/youtube]
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
