“Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” Psalm 34:14
There are certain days in history that will never be forgotten. September 11, 2001 is one of those days. Amidst the collapse of the majestic twin towers was a small church dedicated to Saint Nicholas. It may have been in the shadow of the towers, but it was a church that stood tall as a place a worship, a place of prayer, and a place of holiness.
Nineteen years later, we painfully remember this dark day in our history and pray for the eternal repose of all those who lost their lives, whether they were airline passengers and crew, those working in the towers and the surrounding area, the first-responders who heroically died trying to save others, and even those who suffered and died from illnesses brought on by the aftermath of this terrorist attack.
Healing does not come quickly, but with the passing of time, our lives move forward, yet always recalling the infamous date of September 11, 2001. We are a strong country and a resilient people. As Greek Orthodox Christians, we have been faithful in our pursuit of the development of a new home to honor Saint Nicholas and a place to once again provide for worship, prayer and holiness.
Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade center is that place for us. In just one year, the opening of this sacred space will be celebrated. This will be the culmination of many years of efforts to see this project through to completion. Prayers will be offered for all those who died on 9/11.
This will also be the beginning, as the doors of the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine will be open for the world to witness our faith, to be surrounded by God’s love, to light a candle, and to say a prayer for peace.