This week marks the 30th anniversary of the enthronement of Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, His All-Holiness Bartholomew I, to the Patriarchal Throne of the Mother Church.
With his ground-breaking initiatives and his diverse work, the Primate of Orthodoxy has emerged as a global ecclesiastical leader of noteworthy international prestige, while continuing to elevate the role of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
With determination and with a sacrificial mindset, His All-Holiness walked and continues to walk the path he described on the day the assumed the pastoral reins of the Mother Church, 30 years ago, namely,
“…We receive from the hands of the Blessed and great Patriarch Demetrius I the cross of Andrew the First-Called, in continuation of the ascent to the Skull Place, in the Crucifixion of our Lord and the Crucified Church, in the preservation of the light of the Resurrection”.
On Tuesday, the Ecumenical Patriarch continued his wide-ranging Apostolic visit to the eastern United States by blessing and participating in the Elevation of the Cross atop the marble dome of the long-waited new St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at “Ground Zero” in Manhattan.
The Archdiocese of America and the Friends of St. Nicholas officially welcomed His All-Holiness on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of his Enthronement as Archbishop of Constantinople and Ecumenical Patriarch.
The blessing and presence of the Ecumenical Patriarch marked a spiritual milestone for the shrine, with the full opening of the new cathedral at the very site where a small Orthodox church stood prior to 9/11 scheduled for April of 2022.
The St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church was the only house of worship destroyed on that abominable day. Rebuilt as a National Shrine, it was designed by renowned architect Santiago Calatrava and sits atop Liberty Park, overlooking the Memorial Pools and the 9/11 Museum.
The blessing, Elevation of the Cross and permanent installation of the Cross atop the dome was followed by special service in which His All Holiness opened the main doors of the cathedral.
