Church to help build St. Nicholas Shrine

Rendering of Saint Nicholas National Shrine being built at the World Trade Center. Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Cardiff is supporting the project.

ENCINITAS Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Cardiff is supporting the construction of the Saint Nicholas National Shrine at the World Trade Center through donations from parishioners and community members.

The parish, which has hosted the annual Cardiff Greek Festival in September for 36 years, is set to donate 10 percent of this years festival profits along with stewardship donations from parishioners throughout the year.

The Saint Nicholas National Shrine is being built at Ground Zero, replacing the small Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Nicholas that was destroyed on September 11, 2001 when the South Tower fell after the terrorist attack.

The new church is Greek Orthodox, but it welcomes people of all faiths to visit while touring the 9/11 Memorial and Memorial Museum at the World Trade Center.

The estimated cost of building the shrine is about 38 million and the projected completion date is in 2016, which marks the churchs 100-year anniversary. It was built in 1916.

The shrine, designed by world-renowned architect Santiago Calatrava, will blend the traditions of Byzantine architecture with the steel and glass buildings in the surrounding area. The upper level of the church will include a non-denominational bereavement space, also open to all.

The genesis of this project came from the good will of our faithful as they were moved by the 911 tragedy, said Father Michael Sitaras, pastor at Saints Constantine and Helen. We as Orthodox Christians, while rebuilding the Saint Nicholas Shrine for ourselves at Ground Zero, are simultaneously rebuilding a shrine for all the nations to come, reflect and worship. Community members can support the building of the shrine by sending a check, earmarked for Saint Nicholas Shrine, to Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 3459 Manchester Avenue, Cardiff, CA. 92007.

For information about the shrine visit stnicholaswtc.org or about the parish, visit stsconstantinehelen.com or call (760) 942-0920.

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Church to help build St. Nicholas Shrine