Message from Father Andreas Vithoulkas
Proïstamenos and Archiepiscopal Vicar of the Saint Nicholas National Shrine
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Dear Friends of Saint Nicholas,
There is much to celebrate these days at the Saint Nicholas National Shrine, but perhaps nothing so much as the return of the Sacramental Life of the Parish in its own Temple, after a 22 year hiatus. In just a few days, we will celebrate the first wedding in the rebuilt Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine. This marks an all-important milestone for the Parish, which has continued as an ecclesiastical community throughout these last 22 years, valiantly keeping itself together as a family in Christ, but without a permanent home.
I want to recognize that for many years, the Saint Nicholas Parish was hosted and received as a true Sister in Christ by the Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Brooklyn. That most famous span of bridge, which will be forever be part of the Platytera in the apse of the Church, that shows lower Manhattan overshadowed by the Holy Theotokos. Given the role of the Brooklyn Bridge that terrible day, it is only right that the bridge that led so many to safety should have also been the connection for the Saint Nicholas Parish to find a welcome where its continuity could be preserved.
Even though we are in the midst of Fall, and heading toward Winter, the emergence of Sacraments taking place at the Shrine is a sign of a true spiritual springtime, a blossoming once again of our Orthodox Mystical Life at Ground Zero.
We look forward to receiving many requests to have baptisms, chrismations, and weddings in the Shrine. We promise to work to accommodate everyone possible, but we do recognize that even though the nave of the Church is nearly four times the capacity of the little Church on Cedar Street, it cannot hold more than 125 persons.
Next month, we will announce the coming liturgical and operational schedule that will bring Saint Nicholas back to a full ministry, and a mission far greater than we could have ever imagined. Your prayers and your support are deeply appreciated.
Faithfully in Christ,
Father Andreas Vithoulkas