December 6, 2010

Nearly 1,000 Faithful Gather At Ground Zero For St. Nicholas Feast Day


December 5, 2010
CBS New York

New York’s Greek Orthodox community gathered in Lower Manhattan Sunday afternoon at the site of their church, which was destroyed in the September 11 attacks.

Though they have no church building, they celebrated the Feast of St. Nicholas at ground zero, reports WCBS 880’s Ginny Kosola.

About 1,000 people gathered in the bitter cold for the annual service marking the Feast of St. Nicholas.

Father Mark Arey said talks with the Port Authority over rebuilding there broke off last year and have not been restarted.

Archbishop Demetrios, leader of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, said he is optimistic that the church will be rebuilt.

“We have no doubt whatsoever that the work will be done with the new government,” Archbishop Demetrios said.

St. Nicholas Church was destroyed when one of the World Trade Center towers collapsed on top of it.

The church had stood at the site since 1916. It was the only house of worship destroyed on September 11.



See also:

Congregants of Church Destroyed on 9/11 Return to Ground Zero to Pray

Church left out of 9/11 renewal