The St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine conducted a door opening ceremony.

Amid its ongoing construction, the church still managed to hold the ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 2. The church is located near the World Trade Center.

The church replaced the original church building destroyed during the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Orthodox Patriarch Leads Ceremony

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople blessed the church. He is the head of the Eastern Orthodox Church in the world, the Associated Press (AP) said.

Bartholomew of Constantinople spearheaded the church's door opening ceremony.

The Orthodox patriarch is currently on a 12-day visit to the United States, the report shared.

The news outlet reported that the spiritual leader also recounted his memories 20 years ago. The Orthodox leader described his experiences two decades ago as a tragic moment.

"We stand here today on this hallowed ground at the World Trade Center," he said.

The spiritual leader said that the world transformed into a "cruel and terrible moment." 

He said that the Orthodox Christian religion would "take the lead" in the 9/11 memorial site.

According to him, the Church strives to demonstrate that "good is mightier than evil."

Aside from that, he also reportedly wants to show the world that there is life after death.

Bartholomew of Constantinople also reiterated that "love will always triumph over hate."

Door Opening Ceremony

AP News reported that the Orthodox Christian parishioners joined the ceremony.

The church held the door opening ceremony outdoors, according to the report.

The Orthodox patriarch blessed a massive cross, which was eventually lifted onto the dome by a crane.

The spiritual leader also headed the youngsters in a procession. They reportedly carried crosses and candles in the procession.

The procession ended when the patriarch started blessing several objects from the original church.

The 9/11 terrorist attacks damaged these objects but did not destroy them.

These damaged objects consist of a twisted bell and a shattered icon of the Virgin Mary.

The Church's Construction Shows Progress

New York Yimby reported that the construction of the church was showing progress.

The report noted that Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava created the design for the church.

New York Yimby reiterated that there is still no set completion date for the construction. Developers aim to finish the building in 2022.

The Construction of the Church

According to the website of Santiago Calatrava, Orthodox officials initiated the rebuilding.

As per the report, they negotiated with The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America then green-lighted the construction.

The approval paved the way for the establishment of the modern-day Orthodox church.

About St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine

Based on its website, the original parish church was constructed in 1916. Greek immigrants bought a small space in lower Manhattan, where they founded the church.

The website said that the church was a place where Greeks could stopover during U.S. visits.

The Greek Orthodox Church maintained that rebuilding is essential for parishioners.

The website said that the church has the "potential to inspire millions for generations to come."

 

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