With the construction of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the World Trade having been completed very high scaffolds were erected last week for use in completing its iconography which includes the Pantokrator icon at the Dome’s center and the 20 Prophets at the Dome’s perimeter.
Mount Athos monks Fr. Lukas and his associate Fr. Pachimos, among the finest iconographers in the world, had also arrived back in New York from the Holy Mountain to complete the Dome’s iconography.
Mount Athos monks Fr. Lukas and his associate Fr. Pachimos with Greek renowned entrepreneur Lou Katsos (in the middle)
Lou Katsos who has been helping with others complete St. Nicholas wanting to see the progress of the iconography but being unable to because of the scaffolds and it’s platform decided to climb up its steep ladders surprising many.
Lou Katsos "What most people would consider highly problematic climbing vertically on ladders at such a distance was for me the “Stairway to Heaven” that I had to climb. I knew that once the the iconography was complete at the Dome and the scaffolding taken down next week I would never be able to view the icons from a unique and once in a lifetime perspective."
The iconography is scheduled to be finished early next week and the scaffolds down later that week. The St. Nicholas Church will open for Great Vespers on December 5th, and Orthros and Divine Liturgy on December 6 , St. Nicholas’s Feast Day. Regular Church activities and services will follow after December 6.
