St. Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center Ground Blessing. Photos are © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Altar


Altar

The Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir


Setting up.

The wall, signed by the faithful.

A woman signing a wall of St. Nicholas.

Setting up.

A man signing the wall of St. Nicholas




V. Rev. Father Dr. Nathanael Symeonides (left) with His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta.

Metropolitan Joseph of the Antiochian Archdiocese and Metropolitan Tikhon of the Orthodox Church in America before the ceremony.

Metropolitan Joseph of the Antiochian Archdiocese and Metropolitan Tikhon of the Orthodox Church in America before the ceremony.

Metropolitan Joseph of the Antiochian Archdiocese and Metropolitan Tikhon of the Orthodox Church in America sign the wall of St. Nicholas.

Metropolitan Joseph of the Antiochian Archdiocese signs the wall of St. Nicholas.

Metropolitan Tikhon of the Orthodox Church in America signs the wall of St. Nicholas.

The faithful sign the wall of St. Nicholas.

Seating for guests.

People were invited to sign the wall of St. Nicholas National Shrine.

People were invited to sign the wall of St. Nicholas National Shrine.

People were invited to sign the wall of St. Nicholas National Shrine.

The altar

Father Nathanael Symeonides and His Grace Bishop Andonios.

The ceremony begins.

Members of the Choir.

Members of the Choir.

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

The building of the carins.

Archbishop Demetrios during the ceremony.

Former Governor George Pataki places a carin during the ceremony.

Former Governor George Pataki places a carin during the ceremony.

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta

Metropolitan Joseph of the Antiochian Archdiocese and Metropolitan Tikhon of the Orthodox Church in America after the ceremony.


Representing the Twin Towers, the cairns will be installed permanently at the entrance of St. Nicholas.




Archbishop Demetrios procedes to the altar.

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Members of the St. Nicholas community offer stones to build the two carins.

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA

Ground Blessing Service of Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center from October 18, 2014. Photo © Dimitrios Panagos/GOA



Members of the St. Nicholas community offer stones to build the two carins.


Archbishop Demetrios blesses the Cairns.

Photo copyright John Mindala

Photo copyright John Mindala

Photo copyright John Mindala

Photo copyright John Mindala

Photo copyright John Mindala

Photo copyright John Mindala

Photo copyright John Mindala

NY Fire Fighters stand on a roof across from St. Nicholas during the ceremony. Photo copyright John Mindala

Photo copyright John Mindala

Photo copyright John Mindala

Photo copyright John Mindala

Photo copyright John Mindala

Photo copyright John Mindala

Photo copyright John Mindala

Photo copyright John Mindala

Photo copyright John Mindala

Photo copyright John Mindala

Photo copyright John Mindala

Photo copyright John Mindala

Photo copyright John Mindala