St Nicholas Shrine Marks 25 Years Since 9/11 With Powerful Call for Unity

NEW YORK: The St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at Ground Zero marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks with a solemn memorial service that brought together religious leaders, public officials, first responders, survivors and families of those who died.

The service on September 11, 2026, honoured the nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks while highlighting the resilience of New York and the enduring role of St Nicholas as a place of prayer, remembrance and hope.

Located just steps from the World Trade Center Memorial, the Shrine holds a unique place in the history of September 11. It was the only house of worship destroyed in the attacks.

Archbishop Elpidophoros of America presided over the memorial service and used the occasion to call for an end to hatred and division.

“Never again shall intolerance and hatred bring harm to this hallowed ground, nor to our city,” Archbishop Elpidophoros said.

He described the National Shrine as a living memorial dedicated not only to those who died, but also to the courage and humanity displayed in the aftermath of the attacks.

“We could not bring back those who unjustly perished,” he said, “but we could enshrine their nobility, their heroism, their courage, and ultimately their humanity in a sacred space open to all.”

The Archbishop also stressed the importance of preserving the memory of September 11 as a new generation grows up without personal memories of the attacks.

“Our collective responsibility of being a living memory will only grow as the years go on,” he said.

New York leaders gather at St Nicholas

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani attended the service alongside Archbishop Elpidophoros, Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York Ronald Hicks, Consul General of Greece in New York Iphigenia Kanara and Consul General of Cyprus in New York Kyriakos Pogiatzis.

Romania’s Consul General in New York, Mihaela-Simon Florea, also attended, along with interfaith leaders, first responders, chaplains, survivors, victims’ families, clergy and members of the faithful.

Mamdani reflected on the compassion and solidarity that emerged across New York following the attacks.

He said St Nicholas provided a powerful physical reminder of that resilience, describing the rebuilding of the Shrine as part of the wider recovery of the city.

“No other church was destroyed on September 11,” Mamdani said, highlighting the unique experience of the St Nicholas community.

He also recalled how first responders treated the destroyed church with extraordinary care, recovering religious items including Bibles and candlesticks from the rubble.

For Mamdani, those acts demonstrated how faith, dignity and compassion endured even amid devastation.

A memorial rooted in prayer

The service began with the Presentation of Colors and the singing of the US National Anthem.

St Nicholas parish priest Fr Andreas Vithoulkas then led a moment of silence and reflection.

Archbishop Ronald Hicks offered a funerary hymn and Psalm 22, while first responder chaplains also delivered readings, reflecting the interfaith unity that emerged in the aftermath of September 11.

Among the most emotional moments came through personal testimonies from Anthoula Katsimatides and Fr Panteleimon Papadopoulos.

They shared their experiences of September 11 and reflected on the lasting impact the attacks have had on their lives and on generations of New Yorkers and Americans.

The gathering beneath the Shrine’s distinctive dome reinforced its role as a place where grief and remembrance meet faith and hope.

Twenty-five years after the attacks, St Nicholas stands once again at Ground Zero as a symbol of resilience and a reminder that remembrance can bring people together rather than divide them.

Archbishop Elpidophoros concluded the service with a blessing for those who lost their lives.

“May their Memory be Eternal.”

Αἰωνία ἡ Μνήμη Αὐτῶν.

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