The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America raised $38 million to build a national shrine at Ground Zero following the destruction of the St. Nicholas church in the September 11, 2001, terror attacks. Thousands looked on as their archbishop blessed the foundation of the new church to replace the tiny one that had stood in the shadow of the World Trade Center.

Archbishop Demetrios poses with Calatrava’s design

The church had been converted from a tavern in 1916 to cater to New York’s first large influx of Greek immigrants. It was a small cement building that stood across Liberty Street and was surrounded by a parking lot on three sides.

Archbishop Demetrios of America said: “We remember those first few days after 9/11. In this very place there was heavy piles of ruins, pulverized remains of the innocent victims… I remember breathing in a very heavy, saturated air filled with dust, stone, iron and the tiny particles of human remains… We just prayed and said this church should be rebuilt.”

At the blessing ceremony

The plan however was stalled by the NY and New Jersey Port Authority that wanted to nix plans for its rebuilding. The archdiocese was forced to sue for the tiny church to be rebuilt.

Protest to rebuild the church that had stood in the area prior to the Sept. 11 attacks

The new church is just a block away from the original St. Nicholas Church. Designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, the design uses the artistic Byzantine silhouette of the Virgin Mary with child Jesus as the church’s outline structure. “It is the point where the church originates,” said the architect, adding that both the shrine and his wing span design at the 9/11 memorial share the theme of “reconciliation.”

The white dome shrine will glow at night, and is a modern adaptation of inspiration from Hagia Sophia in Istanbul and the Church of the Holy Savior in Chora.

Construction for the shrine will be completed in 24 months.

A video that shows the design of the new St. Nicholas church at Ground Zero:

The original church