"The restoration, he notes, comes at a historic moment for the Archdiocese, which this year marks 100 years since its founding. The national pilgrimage of St. Nicholas, which will be the focus of the Clergy-Laity Assembly of the Archdiocese of America in July, is essentially a house of prayer and remembrance because of the national trauma in America and the prominent place that St. Nicholas Church occupies in the reconstructed World Trade Center."
In his message, Archbishop Elpidophoros even emphasizes the great responsibility that our Church in America bears to the nation for maintaining the presence of faith and higher principles and values at Ground Zero, as St. Nicholas is the only religious presence on this entire 16-acre site. "The sanctuary," the Archbishop stresses, "is a source of sanctification for all those who come to Ground Zero and for all those around the world who learn the history of 9/11 wherever they are. Our presence is neither proselytizing nor passive, but active, and sanctification, redemption, forgiveness and healing are more than symbols of faith," he stresses.
"Through pastoral ministry, through preaching, through teaching and through giving to others, whether or not they were personally affected by the tragic events of 9/11, we can all together make the difference that sanctification brings with healing, the healing of inner wounds and ultimately redemption from the pain and loss of those of our fellow human beings lost on that fateful day," he adds.
Source: APE-MPA
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