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Very little A report in a Greek-Orthodox newspaper said that before the South Tower collapsed, part of its content was ever recovered. Among what was eventually found were the damaged [[icons]] of St. [[Dionysius of Zakynthosw:United Flight 175|Dionysios of Zakynthos]] and [[Zoodochos Pegeairplane]] and a handful of miscellaneous religious items.<ref>Juan Sanchez. [http://books.google.com/books?id=AK6QA_WotRYC&pg=PT55&dq=%22St.+Nicholas+Greek+Orthodox+Church%22+%22new+york%22&hl=en&ei=Mf1ZTPyIBIL78AbWvOWXCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=23&ved=0CJoBEOgBMBY Terrorism & It's Effects]landing gear was seen resting atop the church. Global MediaAlso, 2007.</ref><ref>William G. Ramroth. [http://books.google.com/books?id=BgTpVyDyWDIC&pg=PA180&dq=%22St.+Nicholas+Greek+Orthodox+Church%22+%22new+york%22&hl=en&ei=Mf1ZTPyIBIL78AbWvOWXCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=30&ved=0CLwBEOgBMB0 Planning for disaster: how natural body parts were spotted on and man-made disasters shape around the church before the collapse of the built environment]. Kaplan Publishingtower, 2007.</ref><ref>M. Dion Thompson. [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/82422026.html?dids=82422026:82422026&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+30%2C+2001&author=M.+Dion+Thompson&pub=The+Sun&desc=A+search+for+holiness+amid+rubble+%3B+Greek+Orthodox+priest+seeks+relics+presumably the remains of+saints%2C+while+hoping+to+rebuild%3B+TERRORISM+STRIKES+AMERICA&pqatl=google A search for holiness amid rubble; Greek Orthodox priest seeks relics of saints, while hoping to rebuild; TERRORISM STRIKES AMERICA]. ''The Baltimore Sun.'' September 30, 2001those who had jumped or fallen from the towers.</ref>
A report Within days, Archbishop [[Demetrios (Trakatellis) of America]] traveled personally to Ground Zero, setting foot on the site where the Church of St. Nicholas stood, in order to conduct a [[Memorial Services|memorial service]] for the victims of those who perished in the attacks and to offer prayers for the families in mourning.<ref name=GOARCH1>''[http://www.goarch.org/special/september11/archival/stnicholaschurch/stnicholas The Rebuilding of St. Nicholas GreekOrthodox Church].'' Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Retrieved 2013-10-Orthodox newspaper said that before 12.</ref> On the [[feast day|Feast Day]] of St. Nicholas, [[December 6]], the South Tower collapsedArchbishop, part joined by His Eminence [[Iakovos (Coucouzis) of America|Archbishop Iakovos]] and area clergy, celebrated a somber [[Vespers]] and [[Memorial Services|memorial service]] near where the Church once stood. Six months after the attacks, His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch [[w:United Flight 175Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople|airplaneBartholomew]]also journeyed to this sacred site and presided at a memorial service with family members of the victims.<ref name=GOARCH1/> Among the church's landing gear was seen resting atop most valuable physical possessions were some of the church. Also[[relics]] of St [[Nicholas of Myra|Nicholas]], St [[Catherine of Alexandria|Catherine]], body parts were spotted on and around St [[Sabbas the Sanctified]], which had been donated to the church before by the holy and right-believing Emperor Saint [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas II]], the collapse last czar of Imperial Russia. These relics were removed from their safe on holy days for [[veneration]]. However they were never recovered after the towerattack. To [[Demetrios (Trakatellis) of America|Archbishop Demetrios]], presumably the notion that the saints' relics were intermingled in the dust with the remains of those who had jumped or fallen from the towersattack victims only serves to [[Sanctification|sanctify]] the site further.<ref>''[http://www.nyc-architecture.com/GON/GON002.htm Church of St. Nicholas].'' New York Architecture. Retrieved: 2013-10-12.</ref> Among what was eventually found were the damaged [[icons]] of St. [[Dionysius of Zakynthos|Dionysios of Zakynthos]] and [[Zoodochos Pege]] and a handful of miscellaneous religious items.<ref>Juan Sanchez. [http://books.google.com/books?id=AK6QA_WotRYC&pg=PT55&dq=%22St.+Nicholas+Greek+Orthodox+Church%22+%22new+york%22&hl=en&ei=Mf1ZTPyIBIL78AbWvOWXCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=23&ved=0CJoBEOgBMBY Terrorism & It's Effects]. Global Media, 2007.</ref><ref>William G. Ramroth. [http://books.google.com/books?id=BgTpVyDyWDIC&pg=PA180&dq=%22St.+Nicholas+Greek+Orthodox+Church%22+%22new+york%22&hl=en&ei=Mf1ZTPyIBIL78AbWvOWXCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=30&ved=0CLwBEOgBMB0 Planning for disaster: how natural and man-made disasters shape the built environment]. Kaplan Publishing, 2007.</ref><ref>M. Dion Thompson. [http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/82422026.html?dids=82422026:82422026&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+30%2C+2001&author=M.+Dion+Thompson&pub=The+Sun&desc=A+search+for+holiness+amid+rubble+%3B+Greek+Orthodox+priest+seeks+relics+of+saints%2C+while+hoping+to+rebuild%3B+TERRORISM+STRIKES+AMERICA&pqatl=google A search for holiness amid rubble; Greek Orthodox priest seeks relics of saints, while hoping to rebuild; TERRORISM STRIKES AMERICA]. ''The Baltimore Sun.'' September 30, 2001.</ref> The congregation members and Father Romas temporarily relocated to [[w:St. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral|St. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral]] in Brooklyn.
== Plans ==
===Final Agreement===[[File:Site Plan - St Nicholas, NY - 2008.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The 2008 plan for building a new St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church at the corner of Liberty and Greenwich Streets.]]On Thus on [[October 14]], 2011, ten years after the church was destroyed, an agreement for the reconstruction of the church was signed that ended all legal action, marking a major win for the tiny church:
*[http://www.stnicholasnyc.com/ St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church]. (Homepage)
→Rebuilding: wording, new section break
[[File:Церковь Святого Николая (Манхэттен).jpeg|right|thumb|230px|St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, New York.]]'''St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church''' is a parish of the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]] in New York City, which stood at 155 Cedar Street in the City’s financial district, across from the [[w:South Tower|South Tower]] of the [[w:World Trade Center|World Trade Center]]. The church was completely destroyed in the [[w:September 11, 2001, attacks|September 11, 2001 attacks]] when the South Tower collapsed.<ref name="google1"> [http://books.google.com/books?id=8RFYzm0NwEIC&pg=PA16&dq=%22St.+Nicholas+Greek+Orthodox+Church%22+%22new+york%22&hl=en&ei=wfxZTIbpAYP-8Abd0omcCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22St.%20Nicholas%20Greek%20Orthodox%20Church%22%20%22new%20york%22&f=false Greek Orthodox Parishes Of New York State – A Photo Tour]. Lulu.com. pp.16-23.</ref> It was the only non-WTC building to be immediately destroyed by the attacks. On [[October 14]], 2011, ten years after the church was destroyed, an agreement for the reconstruction of the church was signed to site the new church at 130 Liberty Street, on Port Authority land.
== History ==
The building that came to house the church was built around 1832. In 1916, [[w:Greek American|Greek American]] immigrants started the congregation of St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and in 1922 started to hold worship services at the Cedar Street location.<ref>David W. Dunlap. [http://books.google.com/books?id=PWXnRWvl0Q0C&pg=PA233&dq=%22St.+Nicholas+Greek+Orthodox+Church%22+%22new+york%22&hl=en&ei=BP1ZTMCQDMH-8AaB3_mbCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CDYQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=%22St.%20Nicholas%20Greek%20Orthodox%20Church%22%20%22new%20york%22&f=false From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship]. Columbia University Press, 2004.</ref><ref>A Schneider. [http://www.npr.org/news/specials/americatransformed/scene/011001.greekchurch.html America Transformed – St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church]. ''NPR.'' October 1, 2001.</ref> Serving the spiritual needs of the early immigrant community, the church also achieved prominence as a religious and cultural center for Greek shipping magnates passing through New York.
The church building was only 22 feet (6.7 m) wide, 56 feet (17 m) long, and 35 feet (11 m) tall, and was easily dwarfed by the 110 story Twin Towers, which were completed in 1972 and 1973. Despite its small size and unusual location, before the attacks the church had a dedicated congregation of about 70 families led by Father John Romas. On Wednesdays, the building was opened to the public and many people, including office workers from the towers and non-[[Greek Orthodox]], would enter the quiet worship space for contemplation and prayer. Among the church's most valuable physical possessions were some of the [[relics]] of St [[Nicholas of Myra|Nicholas]], St [[Catherine of Alexandria|Catherine]], and St [[Sabbas the Sanctified]], which had been donated to the church by the holy and right-believing Emperor Saint [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas II]], the last czar of Imperial Russia. These relics were removed from their safe on holy days for [[venerationprayer]]; they were never recovered after the attack.
== September 11, 2001 ==
[[Image:World Trade Center January 1975.jpg|right|thumb|200px|St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, looking north toward World Trade Center.]]
The building was completely buried by the collapse of the [[w:South Tower|South Tower]] of the WTC. No one was inside when the church was destroyed. The [[w:Sexton (office)|church sexton]] and an electrician managed to escape only minutes before the tragedy.
== Rebuilding ===== 2008 plans and deal breakdown ===Following its collapse, donations of almost $2 million were received, as well as additional pledges of construction materials and appointments for the complete rebuilding of the Church. The congregation members and Father Romas have temporarily relocated to [[w:city of Bari, Italy, where the relics of St. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral|StNicholas were originally bestowed, donated $250,000. Constantine The government of Greece contributed $750,000 to these efforts, and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral]] in Brooklynthe Ecumenical Patriarchate gave $50,000.<ref name=GOARCH1/>
The plans for rebuilding the World Trade Center complex included building a new St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, in a new location at 130 Liberty Street, quite close to the original site.<ref name="google1"/> The church would again house a worshiping congregation, and a museum would also be built for the projected large influx of visitors expected to come to the site.
During the [[Vespers]] service that was held on December 5, 2010, [[Demetrios (Trakatellis) of America|Archbishop Demetrios]] said that the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America|Greek Orthodox Archdiocese]] would do anything to rebuild the church.
On [[February 14]], 2011, The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America filed a $20 million law suit against the [[w:Port Authority|Port Authority]] pursuant to [http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/42/1983.html Section 1983] of the Civil Rights Act ([[w:Title 42 of the United States Code|42 U.S.C.]] § 1983),<ref>Justia Federal District Court Filings & Dockets: Civil Rights Cases filed in the New York Southern District Court. [http://dockets.justia.com/docket/new-york/nysdce/1:2011cv00985/375176/ The Hellenic Eastern Orthodox Church Of Saint Nicholas Of The Downtown Part Of The City Of New York et al v. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey et al]. Filed: February 14, 2011. Case Number: 1:2011cv00985.</ref> requesting a grand jury trial for not rebuilding the church.<ref>[http://usa.greekreporter.com/2011/02/14/st-nicholas-greek-orthodox-archdiocese-of-america-file-lawsuit-against-ny-and-nj-port-authority/ St. Nicholas & Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America File Lawsuit Against NY and NJ Port Authority]. ''Greek Reporter USA.'' 14 February 2011.</ref><ref group="note"> "The St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church filed a $20 million lawsuit against the Port Authority and other agencies in Manhattan Federal Court yesterday for blocking the rebuilding of the tiny house of worship after it was destroyed on 9/11. The suit accuses the Port Authority of "arrogance, bad faith, and fraudulent conduct" and asks a judge to enforce an earlier agreement that church officials say the PA reneged on."<br>:* Scott Shifrel. ''Church sues PA for $20M.'' [[w:Daily News (New York)|Daily News (New York)]]. February 15, 2011.</ref> === Agreement: Second plan to rebuild church ===As a result of settlement discussions mediated by the Governor’s office, the Port Authority and Archdiocese agreed to an independent engineering study to determine the feasibility of siting the Church at various locations in Liberty Park. The four-month study was led by Peter Lehrer, a nationally renowned construction expert, who worked on the project on a pro bono basis with Director of World Trade Center Construction Steven Plate and independent engineers Gorton & Partners and McNamara/Salvia, Inc. The study concluded that structural issues could be resolved to site the Church at 130 Liberty Street at significantly reduced cost compared to the original agreement and with no delay to construction at the World Trade Center site.<ref>''[http://www.panynj.gov/wtcprogress/press_releasesItem.cfm?headLine_id=1474 PORT AUTHORITY AND GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT ON REBUILDING OF ST. NICHOLAS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH].'' The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. Press Release Number: 122. Oct 14, 2011.</ref>
<blockquote>"On Friday, after a combined feat of political arm-twisting and reverse engineering, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo; Archbishop Demetrios, the primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; and Christopher O. Ward, the executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, announced that the new church would be constructed at Liberty and Greenwich Streets, exactly where it was envisioned three years ago, but on a plot of 4,100 square feet, about two-thirds the size of the site in the earlier (2008) plan.<ref name=NYTIMES2011>David W. Dunlap. ''[http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/14/way-is-cleared-to-rebuild-greek-orthodox-church-lost-on-911/?scp=1&sq=st.%20nicholas&st=cse Way Is Cleared to Rebuild Greek Orthodox Church Lost on 9/11].'' NY Times. October 14, 2011, 2:21 pm.</ref></blockquote>
The new church will rebuild on Port Authority land,<ref>''[http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/10/14/deal-struck-to-rebuild-st-nicholas-greek-church-near-wtc-site/ Deal Struck To Rebuild St. Nicholas Greek Church Near WTC Site].'' CBC Local Media (CBS New York). October 14, 2011 4:00 PM.</ref> and will be constructed on a platform above a spiral ramp to an underground parking area. It will also include a nondenominational bereavement center adjacent to it. The Port Authority estimates that it will spend about $25 million to construct the platform on which St. Nicholas will sit and provide the necessary utility hookups.<ref name="NYTIMES2011"/> The church will pay for anything built above ground.<ref name=ENI>Kevin Eckstrom. ''[http://www.eni.ch/featured/article.php?id=5227 Greek Orthodox church will rebuild at Ground Zero].'' ENInews/RNS. 19 October 2011.</ref>
<blockquote>"Father Arey said it was too early to predict whether St. Nicholas would have a dome. “It will look like an Orthodox church,” he said, “while the emphasis will be to be spiritually and contextually harmonious with the neighborhood.” Speaking of the 2001 attack, Father Arey said: “It wasn’t just an act of terrorism. It was an act of religious hatred at some level. Rebuilding the only house of worship destroyed on 9/11 is important for the psyche and the soul of the nation.”"<ref name="NYTIMES2011"/></blockquote>
Archbishop Demetrios said that "our pledge is to be a witness for all New Yorkers, that freedom of conscience and the fundamental human right of free religious expression will always shine forth in the resurrected St. Nicholas Church."<ref name="ENI"/>
[[File:Liberty Park, Manhattan 1.jpg|right|thumb|Layout of Liberty Park, with the plan to rebuild St. Nicholas Church at left and pedestrian bridge at right.]]
On Saturday [[October 18]], 2014, government and church leaders attended a ground blessing ceremony on a concrete platform surrounded by steel foundation beams and orange construction netting.<ref>Sarah Pulliam Bailey. ''[http://www.cruxnow.com/faith/2014/10/20/greek-orthodox-launch-rebuilding-of-st-nicholas-the-only-church-destroyed-on-911/ Greek Orthodox begin rebuilding St. Nicholas, destroyed on 9/11].'' CRUX (Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC). October 20, 2014.</ref><ref>Tom Hays. ''[http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ed9ae3701d524a8f836f22c3bb6eeb06/site-greek-church-near-wtc-gets-blessing Site for Greek church near WTC gets blessing]. Associated Press (AP). Oct. 18, 2014 2:24 PM EDT.</ref> Renowned Spanish architect [[w:Santiago Calatrava|Santiago Calatrava]] was awarded the task of designing the new St. Nicholas. His plans were influenced by the churches of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] and the [[Church of the Holy Saviour in the Country (Istanbul,Turkey)|Church of the Holy Savior, Istanbul]].<ref>Dunlop, David W. ''"[http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/31/nyregion/st-nicholas-church-destroyed-on-9-11-to-rebuild-with-byzantine-design.html?_r=1 Church Near Trade Center to Echo Landmarks of East]".'' New York Times. October 13, 2013.</ref>
===Further Fundraising Efforts===
In 2015 [[w:American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association|AHEPA]] chapters from across the country launched fundraising efforts hoping to raise at least $500,000 over the next two years toward the estimated $38 million project, combining contributions with private gifts and donations from the 525 parishes within the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.<ref>Adam Benson. ''[http://www.norwichbulletin.com/article/20150629/NEWS/150629469 Norwich Greek community aims to help rebuild church destroyed in 9/11 attacks].'' The Bulletin. Jun. 29, 2015 at 4:07 PM.</ref>
In the spring of 2016, it was announced that proceeds totaling $100,000 from the liquidation of the assets of [[St. Nicholas Church (Appleton, Wisconsin)|St. Nicholas Church in Appleton, Wisconsin]] would be donated to the rebuilding of St. Nicholas Church and Shrine. The parish will be denoted as a benefactor, and a video history of their church will be at the new St. Nicholas here. <ref name="appleton1">Ackerman, John C.[http://myocn.net/former-appleton-parish-makes-major-contribution-to-st-nicholas-national-shrine/ Former Appleton Parish Makes Major Contribution to St. Nicholas National Shrine] Orthodox Christian Network; March 21, 2016</ref><ref name="appleton2">Jones, Meg [http://www.jsonline.com/news/religion/appleton-greek-orthodox-church-closes-with-a-tribute-to-history-b99699384z1-374433841.html Appleton Greek Orthodox Church Closes with a Tribute to History] Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel; April 3, 2016</ref>
==Notes==
<references group="note" />
== References ==
== External links ==
*[http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week902/feature.html PBS Feature: Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church]. ''PBS.org: Religion & Ethics.'' September 9, 2005. Episode no. 902.
*[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/24/nyregion/24greek.html?_r=1 Amid Furor on Islamic Center, Pleas for Orthodox Church Nearby]. ''NY Times.'' August 23, 2010.
* [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/17/ground-zero-church-archdiocese-says-officials-forgot/ What About the Ground Zero Church? Archdiocese Says Officials Abandoned Project]. ''FoxNews.com.'' August 17, 2010.
*[http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3426 Wired New York article/forum on the church]. ''Wired New York.'' (includes pictures)
'''Court Case'''
* Justia Federal District Court Filings & Dockets: Civil Rights Cases filed in the New York Southern District Court. [http://dockets.justia.com/docket/new-york/nysdce/1:2011cv00985/375176/ The Hellenic Eastern Orthodox Church Of Saint Nicholas Of The Downtown Part Of The City Of New York et al v. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey et al]. Filed: February 14, 2011. Case Number: 1:2011cv00985
* Scott Shifrel. ''Church sues PA for $20M.'' [[w:Daily News (New York)|Daily News (New York)]]. February 15, 2011.
* ''Orthodox church sues over temple destroyed on 9/11.'' The Associated Press State & Local Wire. February 15, 2011 Tuesday 1:18 AM GMT.
'''Agreement'''
* David W. Dunlap. ''[http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/14/way-is-cleared-to-rebuild-greek-orthodox-church-lost-on-911/?scp=1&sq=st.%20nicholas&st=cse Way Is Cleared to Rebuild Greek Orthodox Church Lost on 9/11].'' NY Times. October 14, 2011, 2:21 pm.
* Kevin Eckstrom. ''[http://www.eni.ch/featured/article.php?id=5227 Greek Orthodox church will rebuild at Ground Zero].'' ENInews/RNS. 19 October 2011.
* ''[http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/10/14/deal-struck-to-rebuild-st-nicholas-greek-church-near-wtc-site/ Deal Struck To Rebuild St. Nicholas Greek Church Near WTC Site].'' CBC Local Media (CBS New York). October 14, 2011 4:00 PM.
* ''[http://bilirakis.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4207&Itemid=115 Hellenic Caucus Co-Chairs Applaud Agreement to Rebuild St. Nicholas Church].'' Congressman Gus Bilirakis - 2011 Press Releases. October 14, 2011.
'''New Church'''
*[http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30691875 Santiago Calatrava rebuilds St Nicholas Church on Ground Zero]. ''BBC News.'' 7 January 2015 Last updated at 00:19 GMT. (includes video)
[[Category:Churches|Nicholas]][[Category:USA Churches|Nicholas]][[Category:New York Churches|Nicholas]]
