www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Construction to start on Ground Zero G.O.church this weekend

Here are some renderings of what it will look like:

http://therealdeal.com/blog/2014/10/16/renderings-reveal-interior-of-ground-zero-church/

The nighttime concept drawings bear a striking resemblance to the new St. Sava Cathedral in Belgrade.

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/10/1...h-will-rise-anew-.html?referrer&_r=1

A tiny bit of media coverage from the NY Times.

Dear Mother Alice,

Is St Nicholas the patron Saint of New York City? (St Patrick is one such patron.) I believe St Nicholas was first acclaimed as such by the Dutch (?).

Alex

Dear Alex,

I don't know if NY has any patron saint, but I can name a few patron idols!

St. Patrick is well loved because of the large Irish population whose hard earned nickels and dimes literally built the beautiful Gothic cathedral on Manhattan. Unlike the beautiful cathedrals I have visited in Montreal and Italy, this one is very much alive in prayer at any hour of the day.

As for St. Nicholas, the Greeks venerate him as the patron saint of the sea, since so many Greeks have made their living off the sea. The little church which was destroyed in the 9/11 attack was there for the Greek seafarers to have a church to go to when they were in port. Through the years as things changed, the church became something of a neighborhood chapel for all people desiring a moment of contemplation, and to be able to light a candle in prayer.

This new church which looks quite beautiful will serve an even greater purpose as part of the 9/11 memorial...so indeed, St. Nicholas, the saint venerated by so many different cultures is indeed a fitting saint for this church.

I pray that it will be an inspiration, especially for the younger generations that have abandoned God and religion, to seek God in the beauty and important location of this church.

Be well,
Alice

Dear Mother Alice,

You are more than correct!

The first patron saint of NYC was, in fact, St Nicholas, so named in 1636 via the Dutch settlers of New Amsterdam. The traditions and legends that wove themselves into "Santa Claus" came from them as well.

(Do you know what you call the fear of Santa? "Claus-trophobia . . .").

There still is a Dutch heritage society in NYC named for St Nicholas and this certainly dovetails with the Greek veneration of St Nikolaos - good for the Greek Americans!

There is also another Orthodox patron of NYC - the Holy New Hieromartyr St Alexander Hotovitsky who worked in NYC prior to the Russian Revolution.

Also, the Jesuit Martyr St Isaac Jogues actually visited what is today Manhattan and there is a tour that visits the area ( a must-see for next time I'm in NYC). There are also other American Catholic saints who were in NYC and whose relics are enshrined in St Patrick's Cathedral (with the image of "Our Lady of New York City" there).

But the earliest patron of NYC is St Nicholas and the Greeks are indeed blessed to have built a church to the great Father among the Saints at Ground Zero. A miraculous preservation as well . . .

God bless,

Alex