Saint Nicholas National Shrine Plans Presented at Leadership 100 Conference

Jerry Dimitriou, Executive Director of Administration of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, presented the plans and status of the project at the Thursday Forum on February 12, 2015. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has embarked upon a strategic capital development program to raise more than $35M for its construction, as well as for additional funding  to maintain and sustain the Shrine with an endowment of an estimated $12M.

The Executive Committee of Leadership 100, meeting on Friday, June 20, 2014, unanimously approved a special gift of $1 million toward the rebuilding of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, to be designated as the St. Nicholas National Shrine, according to George Tsandikos, Chairman. In addition, individual Leadership 100 members have made gifts totaling $1.5 million. “Taken together our goal is to raise several million dollars in support of what is a truly historic undertaking by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America that will commemorate the sacrifices of September 11 while making visible our Orthodox Faith and Hellenic Heritage,” said George Tsandikos.

As the only house of worship destroyed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Saint Nicholas Church is set to be rebuilt as the Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center by the end of 2016. Designed by world-renowned architect Santiago Calatrava, it has attracted the attention of the nation and the world and called upon the dedication and resources of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and Greek American Community. The Shrine will be built on Liberty Street overlooking the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.