"Among the buildings destroyed on 9/11 was the humble St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, the only house of worship to perish that day. Yet, in God’s providence, and through the devotion of countless faithful, the Church of St. Nicholas has risen again at Ground Zero transformed into a place of prayer for the whole world." Photo: The Church of St. Nicholas at Ground Zero as it stands today. Inset photo: The Twin Towers during the attack of September 11, 2001, in New York City.
September 11 is a day engraved forever in our hearts and souls. Twenty four years have passed since that terrible morning in 2001, yet for so many of us the pain and memory remain as if it were yesterday.
By Ilias Lou Katsos
Those who were in New York recall with piercing clarity where they were, what they saw, and whom they held close. Families were torn apart, and nearly 3,000 innocent souls men, women, and children were taken from this life in an instant, and thousands later as a consequence. At the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and in the quiet field of Shanksville, Pennsylvania, lives were lost, but courage was revealed. May their memory be eternal, and may their sacrifice never be forgotten.
From that day of fire and dust, there also arose a call for faith, for hope, and for renewal. Among the buildings destroyed on 9/11 was the humble St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, the only house of worship to perish that day. Completely buried under the collapse of the South Tower, it seemed lost forever. Yet, in God’s providence, and through the devotion of countless faithful, the Church of St. Nicholas has risen again at Ground Zero transformed into a place of prayer for the whole world.
Its resurrection recalls the ancient image of the phoenix: “And I will multiply days as the phoenix” (Hebrew: chol).
Just as the phoenix rises from its ashes, so too has St. Nicholas returned, not as it was, but as a greater witness, yes a Greek Orthodox Church but also as a National Shrine, a sanctuary of remembrance, and a house of peace.
Built in the heart of Ground Zero, this church now stands as a cenotaph, an “empty tomb,” consecrated to the memory of those who perished that day. The very word cenotaph comes from the Hellenic kenotaphion from kenos, meaning “empty,” and taphos, “tomb.” Though the earthly remains of those who died lie elsewhere, here their sacrifice is honored, their names are remembered, and their spirits are commended to God.
The hand carved inscriptions at its entrance proclaim to all who pass that this holy place is not only a church, but a shrine of solemn remembrance. It is a witness to the truth that faith endures, that hope is never extinguished, and that love is stronger than death.
On this day, as we bow our heads in prayer, we remember not only the horror and the sorrow of 9/11, but also the light that continues to shine in its aftermath the light of selfless courage, of resilience, and of faith. May the souls of the departed rest in peace, may their memory be eternal, and may St. Nicholas, the protector of travelers and guardian of those at sea, intercede for them and for us all.
We thank Mr. Lou Katsos for permitting us to publish his text and photos
