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As the week of observances to remember the September 11 terrorist attacks begin, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America joined dignitaries and Port Authority police and friends for the dedication of the Port Authority Memorial, which is located next to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine in downtown New York.

Joining in the moving ceremony were New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, Executive Director of the Port Authority Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Kathryn Garcia, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Kevin O’Toole, NY Congressman Dan Goldman, State Senator Brian Kavanaugh, Assemblymember Grace Lee, Manhattan borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, President of the WTC Memorial Fund Paul Iannacone, current and former Port Authority police officers, family members, friends and supporters.

Archbishop Elpidophoros was joined by New York State Governor Kathy Hochul as well as local politicians representatives of the PADP at the dedication. (Photo by Orthodox Observer/Tom Galanis)

The Ceremony began with the Colors and the singing of National Anthem, followed by remarks by the dignitaries, many of whom noted the significance of the location of the Memorial, overlooking the 9-11 Memorial as well as adjacent to the beautiful St. Nicholas Shrine, the only house of worship destroyed on 9-11.

Address the hundreds gathered under a clear blue sky, the Archbishop spoke about those who lost their lives and the importance of remembering them.  “We will remember the sacrifice of those who, in a moment of unimaginable crisis, thought first of the safety of others. And we will remember the families who have carried both their love and their loss across these twenty-five years. It is deeply meaningful that we gather here beside our Saint Nicholas National Shrine.

At the dedication, speakers drew on the memory of the first responders who lost their lives on 9/11, as well as the 1993 World Trade Center Bombings. (Photo by Orthodox Observer/Tom Galanis)

This little church was itself lost on September 11. Today, it stands again overlooking Ground Zero, not as though the tragedy never happened, but precisely because it did.  Saint Nicholas stands here as a witness that destruction need not have the final word; that from the deepest wounds can come renewed purpose; and that remembrance, joined with faith, can become hope. And it is in that hope that we now pray.”

 

 

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