St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox National Shrine
The church seen in September 2018
Location 130 Liberty Street,
Manhattan (New York City), New York
Country United States
Denomination Greek Orthodox
Membership None
Website stnicholaswtc.org
History
Former name(s) St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
Status Under construction
Founded 1916
Founder(s) Greek immigrants
Architecture
Architect(s) Santiago Calatrava, Koutsomitis Architects PC
Architectural type Modern
Style Eastern Orthodox
Groundbreaking 2015
Specifications
Length 56 ft (17 m)
Width 22 ft (6.7 m)
Height 35 ft (11 m)
Administration
Archdiocese Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Clergy
Priest(s) Father John Romas

The St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church (officially the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine[1]) is a church under construction as part of the World Trade Center in Manhattan, New York, US. The church is being developed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and was designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.

Planned to open in late 2018 but delayed as of 2017, the church is located in Liberty Park, overlooking the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. Its dome is inspired by the world-famous Byzantine Church of the Savior in Edirnekapı, Istanbul. It will contain a meditation/bereavement space and a community room housed in the upper levels above the Narthex "to welcome visitors and faithful." According to its official website, the new "Saint Nicholas would welcome all and be a House of Prayer for all people."

It will replace the original church of the same name located at 155 Cedar Street, which was destroyed on September 11, 2001 when the South Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed after being struck by United Airlines Flight 175.[2] It was the only building not part of the World Trade Center complex to be completely destroyed as a result of the attacks, although the Deutsche Bank Building next door was later demolished due to severe damage and contamination.

Early history

The building that came to house the church was built around 1832. It was originally a private dwelling which was later turned into a tavern.[3]

In 1916, Greek American immigrants started the congregation of St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Before moving to Cedar Street, its parishioners worshiped in the dining room of a hotel on Morris Street run by Stamatis Kalamarides.[4] In addition to the immigrant community, the church was also visited by Greek shipping magnates passing through New York.[5]

In 1919, five families raised US$25,000 to buy the tavern, converted it into a church,[6] and started to hold worship services in 1922.[7][8] The church building was only 22 feet (6.7 m) wide, 56 feet (17 m) long, and 35 feet (11 m) tall, and was dwarfed by the 110-story Twin Towers completed in 1972 and 1973.

Despite its small size and unusual location (all the adjacent buildings[9] had been demolished, leaving the church surrounded on three sides by a parking lot[10]), before the attacks the church had a dedicated congregation of about 70 families led by Father John Romas. On Wednesdays, the building was open to the public, and received visitors who were not all Greek Orthodox.

September 11, 2001

The original church on 9/11 just before the South Tower (2 World Trade Center) fell on it

The building was completely buried by the collapse of the south tower of the World Trade Center. No one was inside when the church was destroyed; the church sexton and an electrician were able to escape only minutes before.[5]

A report in a Greek-Orthodox newspaper said that before the south tower collapsed, part of the airplane's landing gear was seen resting atop the church. Additionally, human body parts were spotted on and around the church before the collapse of the tower, presumably the remains of either those who had jumped or fallen from the towers, or of the passengers of the hijacked planes.

Very little of the church's content was recovered. Among the church's most valuable physical possessions were some of the relics of St Nicholas, St Catherine, and St Sava,[11] which had been donated to the church by Nicholas II, the last tsar of Russia. These relics were removed from their safe on holy days for veneration; they were never recovered after the attack.[12] To Archbishop Demetrios, the notion that the saints' relics were intermingled in the dust with the remains of the attack victims only serves to sanctify the site further.[13]

Among items eventually found were the damaged icons of St. Dionysios of Zakynthos and the Life-giving Spring (Zoodochos Pigi) and a handful of miscellaneous religious items.[11][14][15]

Rebuilding

The congregation members and Father Romas temporarily relocated to Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Brooklyn.[12][note 1]

On December 6, 2001, the Feast Day of St. Nicholas, Archbishop Demetrios of America, joined by Archbishop Iakovos and area clergy, celebrated a somber vespers and memorial service near the location where the Church once stood.[17]

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.[17] The city of Bari, Italy, where the relics of Saint Nicholas were originally bestowed, donated $500,000.[18] The Government of Greece contributed $750,000 to these efforts,[17] and the Ecumenical Patriarchate gave $50,000.[19][note 2]

Meanwhile, the plans for rebuilding the World Trade Center complex included building a new St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church quite close to the original location, on the elevated Liberty Park.[2] The church would again house a worshipping congregation, while a museum would also be built for the projected large influx of visitors expected to come to the site.

2008 plans and deal breakdown

On July 23, 2008, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reached a deal with the leaders of the church for the Port Authority to acquire the 1,200-square-foot (110 m2) lot that the church had occupied for $20 million; $10 million came from the Port Authority and $10 million from JPMorgan Chase & Co.[21][22] Under the terms of the deal, the Port Authority would grant land and up to $20 million to help rebuild the church in a new location – in addition, the authority was willing to pay up to $40 million to construct a bomb-proof platform underneath it.[9]

In March 2009, the Port Authority stated that it had stopped talking with the church and had canceled building St. Nicholas altogether. The Port Authority said that the church was asking for too much, and that they might delay the whole World Trade Center project.[22] The Archdiocese, however, said that they just wanted the church back, and a third of the building would be a memorial for 9/11, a place where people of all faiths could pray and remember those who died in the attacks.

In July 2010 George Demos, a former SEC attorney and Republican Congressional candidate, first brought the failure to rebuild St. Nicholas Church into the national debate. Demos said that the Executive Director of the Port Authority, Chris Ward, had not made rebuilding St. Nicholas church a top priority.[23] On August 16, 2010, Demos launched a petition on his website calling on the Port Authority to rebuild the church,[24] calling the Port Authority "disingenuous and disrespectful".[25] On August 23, 2010, former New York Governor George Pataki joined George Demos at a press conference to call on the Port Authority to reopen talk with officials from the Church.[26]

During the vespers service held on December 5, 2010, Archbishop Demetrios]said the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese would do anything to rebuild the church.

On February 14, 2011, The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America filed a $20 million lawsuit against the Port Authority pursuant to Section 1983 of the Civil Rights Act (42 U.S.C. § 1983),[27] requesting a grand jury trial for not rebuilding the church.[28][29]

2011 agreement to rebuild

As a result of settlement discussions mediated by the Governor of New York'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 construction expert Peter Lehrer, 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.[30] The study concluded that structural issues could be resolved to site the Church at 130 Liberty Street at significantly lower cost than originally agreed, and with no delay to construction at the World Trade Center site.[30]

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.[31] Governor Andrew Cuomo, Archbishop Demetrios, 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 the intersection of Liberty and Greenwich Streets in Liberty Park, exactly where it had been envisioned three years before. However, the church would be located on a plot of 4,100 square feet, about two-thirds the size of the site in the earlier proposed plan of 2008.[32] It would also include an adjacent a nondenominational bereavement center.[32]

The new site at 130 Liberty Street was less than 50 yards east of the church's original site at 155 Cedar Street, but more than three times larger.[33] The new church would be rebuilt on Port Authority land,[34] on a platform above the helical underground ramp of the Vehicular Security Center, which will house the loading and parking areas of the new World Trade Center.[32] The Port Authority estimated that it would spend about $25 million to construct the platform on which St. Nicholas will sit and provide the necessary utility hookups,[32] while the church would pay for anything built above ground.[35] Archbishop Demetrios stated 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."[35]

Construction and further fundraising

Construction progress seen in June 2016

Spanish Architect Santiago Calatrava was awarded the task of designing the new St. Nicholas. His plans were influenced by the great Byzantine churches of Hagia Sophia and the Church of the Holy Savior in Chora, both in Istanbul.[36] According to Calatrava, who consulted Archbishop Demetrios with regard to the liturgical and iconographical requirements of the interior, the church would be built of steel and concrete, but the exterior would be clad in stone.[37]

The ground blessing ceremony and symbolic laying of the cornerstone took place on October 18, 2014, attended by government and church leaders, with construction expected to be completed within two years.[38][39][40] In September 2015 a live webcam showing the church's construction was made available.[41]

In 2015 AHEPA chapters from across the country launched fundraising efforts hoping to raise at least $500,000 over the following 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.[42] In the spring of 2016, it was announced that proceeds totaling $100,000 from the liquidation of the assets of St. Nicholas Church in Appleton, Wisconsin would be donated to the rebuilding of St. Nicholas Church and Shrine. The parish would be denoted as a benefactor, and a video history of their church would be present at the new St. Nicholas National Shrine.[43][44] In September 2016 the Stavros Niarchos Foundation donated 5 million dollars for the rebuilding of Saint Nicholas at the WTC.[45]

On November 29, 2016, the church structure was ceremoniously topped out with a temporary cross, to be replaced with a permanent cross upon completion of the church dome.[46]

On August 21, 2017, the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church signed a formal lease and purchase agreement with the Port Authority for what is to be known as The Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center.[47] The final deal was signed by Rick Cotton, the Port’s new executive director, just days after he took on the role. The 198-year lease runs until July 31, 2215, and has an additional 99-year extension, as well as an option to buy the land from the Port Authority at any time during the term of the lease for a nominal [i.e., $1] purchase price.[47]

The church was expected to re-open in November 2018.[48] However, in December 2017, Skanska U.S.A., the construction company rebuilding the Santiago Calatrava-designed shrine, ceased work at the site in Liberty Park. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America had been unable to pay Skanska's bills, despite receiving $37 million in donations for the shrine.[49] According to a December 2017 newsletter, $48,991,760 had been pledged to date, while of that amount $37,398,316 had been collected, leaving a pledge balance of just over $11 million.[50]

On May 16, 2018, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America released the results of Phase I of the PricewaterhouseCoopers investigative report regarding the rebuilding of Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine (SNCNS).[51] The report concluded that as of December 31, 2017, the Archdiocese owes the SNCNS an aggregate of $3,504,550, excluding interest. On May 2, 2018, the Archdiocese made a $1,000,000 payment to the SNCNS thereby reducing the balance due to $2,504,550.[52]

In July 2018 the Archdiocese closed a deal with Alma Bank for a 10-year, $5.5-million mortgage to restore monies to the unfinished St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at Liberty Park, however the fresh funding is not expected to be enough to complete the project, whose cost has ballooned to $80 million.[53]

Notes

  1. ↑ Rev. Father John Romas labored tirelessly for the rebuilding of the church and anxiously awaited its' completion, however he passed away on Sunday January 24, 2016.[16]
  2. ↑ Some of the donors that contributed immediately after the horrific events of 9/11, whose critical support made rebuilding possible included the following parties:[20]

References

  1. ↑ St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  2. 1 2 Greek Orthodox Parishes of New York State - a Photo Tour Vol. 1. Lulu.com. p. 16. ISBN 978-1-4303-2861-2.
  3. ↑ Dunlap, David W. (May 14, 2004). "Solace on the Site of Disaster". The New York Times.
  4. ↑ Dunlap, David W. (April 22, 2006). "On Greek Orthodox Easter A Displaced Parish Contemplates its Future". The New York Times.
  5. 1 2 Zirogiannis, Marc. GREEK ORTHODOX PARISHES OF NEW YORK STATE- A PHOTO TOUR Vol. 1, Volume 1. Lulu.com, 2010. Page 18. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  6. ↑ Bagli, Charles V. (July 3, 2008). "Church's Troubles Typify Ground Zero Delays". The New York Times.
  7. ↑ Dunlap, David W. (2004). From Abyssinian to Zion: a guide to Manhattan's houses of worship. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-12542-0.
  8. ↑ A Schneider (October 1, 2001). "America Transformed – St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church". NPR.
  9. 1 2 Bagli, Charles V. (July 24, 2008). "Agency in Tentative Accord With Ground Zero Church". The New York Times.
  10. ↑ "Our History". St. Nicholas Church.
  11. 1 2 Thompson, M. Dion (September 30, 2001). "A search for holiness amid rubble ; Greek Orthodox priest seeks relics of saints, while hoping to rebuild; TERRORISM STRIKES AMERICA". The Baltimore Sun.
  12. 1 2 "Feature: Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church". Religion & Ethics Newsweekly. PBS. September 9, 2005.
  13. ↑ Church of St. Nicholas. New York Architecture. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  14. ↑ Sanchez, Juan (2007). Terrorism & It's Effects. Global Media. p. 55. ISBN 978-81-89940-93-5.
  15. ↑ Ramroth, William G. (2007). Planning for disaster: how natural and man-made disasters shape the built environment. Kaplan Publishing. p. 180. ISBN 978-1-4195-9373-4.
  16. ↑ Archdiocese Mourns The Loss Of Father John Romas. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Jan 26, 2016. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  17. 1 2 3 St. Nicholas: On this rock I will rebuild my Church. St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  18. ↑ Italian City of Bari Donates $500,000 for Reconstruction of St. Nicholas Church. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. September 28, 2001. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
  19. ↑ Ecumenical Patriarchate Pledges $50,000 for Rebuilding of St. Nicholas Church. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. September 27, 2001. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  20. ↑ Updates — Donor Recognition. St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  21. ↑ Associated Press (July 23, 2008). "Church surrenders ground zero lot". MSNBC.
  22. 1 2 Bagli, Charles V. (March 18, 2009). "Church Destroyed at Ground Zero Is Still at Square One". The New York Times.
  23. ↑ "Decision Not to Rebuild Church Destroyed on 9/11 Surprises Greek Orthodox Leaders". Fox News. August 18, 2010.
  24. ↑ "Rebuild Ground Zero Church First". George Demos For Congress.
  25. ↑ Berger, Judson (August 17, 2010). "What About the Ground Zero Church? Archdiocese Says Officials Abandoned Project". Fox News.
  26. ↑ Vitello, Paul (August 24, 2010). "Amid Furor on Islamic Center, Pleas for Orthodox Church Nearby". The New York Times.
  27. ↑ Justia Federal District Court Filings & Dockets: Civil Rights Cases filed in the New York Southern District Court. 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. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  28. ↑ "Church Destroyed On 9/11 Files Suit Against Port Authority". NY1. February 14, 2011. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
  29. ↑ Shifrel, Scott. Church sues PA for $20M. Daily News (New York). February 15, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  30. 1 2 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. October 14, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  31. ↑ "Historic Church Destroyed On 9/11 To Rise Again". NY1. October 14, 2011. Archived from the original on May 12, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
  32. 1 2 3 4 Dunlap, David W. (October 14, 2011). "Way Is Cleared to Rebuild Greek Orthodox Church Lost on 9/11". The New York Times. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  33. ↑ "Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and Saint Nicholas Church Establish National Shrine at Ground Zero". New York: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. November 13, 2013. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  34. ↑ Lamb, Rich. Deal Struck To Rebuild St. Nicholas Greek Church Near WTC Site. CBS New York. October 14, 2011 at 4:00 PM. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  35. 1 2 Greek Orthodox church will rebuild at Ground Zero. Church News Ireland (CNI) - Religion News Service (RNS). October 22, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  36. ↑ Dunlap, David W. (October 30, 2013). "Church Near Trade Center to Echo Landmarks of East". The New York Times. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  37. ↑ Scaros, Constantinos E. (March 8, 2014). "Hagia Sophia Spirit Abound in Calatrava's St. Nicholas Ground Zero Church Design". The National Herald. New York. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  38. ↑ "Ground Blessing for Saint Nicholas at WTC, a place of prayer and peace, a place of hope and love". New York: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. October 19, 2014. Archived from the original on November 4, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  39. ↑ Pulliam Bailey, Sarah. Greek Orthodox begin rebuilding St. Nicholas, destroyed on 9/11. CRUX (Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC). October 20, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  40. ↑ Hays, Tom. Site for Greek church near WTC gets blessing. Associated Press (AP). October 18, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  41. ↑ "Live Stream of St. Nicholas Church and National Shrine". New York: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. September 30, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  42. ↑ Benson, Adam. Norwich Greek community aims to help rebuild church destroyed in 9/11 attacks. The Bulletin. June 29, 2015 at 4:07 PM. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  43. ↑ Ackerman, John C. Former Appleton Parish Makes Major Contribution to St. Nicholas National Shrine. Orthodox Christian Network. March 21, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  44. ↑ Jones, Meg. Appleton Greek Orthodox Church Closes with a Tribute to History. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. April 3, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  45. ↑ Stavros Niarchos Foundation Donates 5 Million Dollars for the Rebuilding of Saint Nicholas at the WTC. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. 9/21/16. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  46. ↑ Papapostolou, Anastasios (November 29, 2016). "St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Got Its Cross Back". Greek Reporter. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  47. 1 2 Weiss, Lois. Agreement signed for Saint Nicholas National Shrine at WTC. New York Post. September 5, 2017 | 11:47pm. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  48. ↑ Weiss, Lois (September 6, 2017). "Agreement signed for Saint Nicholas National Shrine at WTC". New York Post. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  49. ↑ Otterman, Sharon. "Work Stops on St. Nicholas Shrine at World Trade Center Site." The New York Times. December 26, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  50. ↑ Pappas, Gregory. St. Nicholas Fundraiser Fr. Alex Karloutsos: Let There Be No Doubt, Funds Taken Will Be Returned. The Pappas Post. December 15, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
  51. ↑ Archdiocese Releases Report on Saint Nicholas. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. May 16, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  52. ↑ Stamboulidis, George A. Re: PwC Report discussing the Rebuiding of Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine. Baker & Hostetler LLP. May 15, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  53. ↑ Calisi, Joseph M. A drop in the collection plate: Greek Orthodox church gets loan to restart — but not finish — St. Nicholas construction. Downtownexpress.com (NYC Community Media LLC). July 19, 2018.

Coordinates: 40°42′37″N 74°00′50″W / 40.71028°N 74.01389°W / 40.71028; -74.01389

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.