Posted on 12/08/2022 7:33:16 PM PST by marshmallow
More than two decades after the tragedy of 9/11, the new St. Nicholas Church and National Shrine at Ground Zero was officially opened on the feast of St. Nicholas on Tuesday.
A much simpler St. Nicholas Church used to stand on the same spot, but it was destroyed by falling rubble on 9/11. In 2010, Church leaders reached an agreement to build a new church, and after more than a decade of starts and stops, the church held its first Liturgy, on its patronal feast, celebrated by Bishop Apostolos of Medeia, reports Ekathimerini.
“Today is a joyous day for America and for New York,” said Michael Psaros, Chairman of the Friends of St. Nicholas, which raised funds for the church. “We invite all of America to please come visit, to come to the cenotaph that was created and built in memory of 3,000 people who were martyred and murdered on September 11.”
“To see it back up like this, to see it so close to the Statue of Liberty, which represents all the immigrants who helped make this church, is very moving to all of us,” said Maria Yatrakis, a parishioner of the old St. Nicholas Church.
(Excerpt) Read more at orthochristian.com ...
May God bless their efforts.
CC
Can anyone explain the significance of the tasseled square that hangs under the two priests’ right hands from beneath the upper robe?
Great news. May it hallow the entire area and reap a harvest of souls.
https://www.saintjohnchurch.org/orthodox-liturgical-vestments/#epigonation
The epigonation (Greek: “over the knee”), or palitza (Russian: “club”), is a diamond-shaped vestment worn over the right knee of priests and bishops. In Byzantine tradition, priests are awarded the epigonation upon elevation to the rank of exomologos, or confessor. In Russian tradition, it is given after many years of service. Though a Russian palitza is identical in shape, and is obviously related to the epigonation, the most literal Slavonic translation for epigonation is actually “Nabedrennik“, which is a different rectangular vestment that no longer exists in non-Slavic usage.
Image 12: Epigonation
MEANING
The epigonation represents a shield, originating from the thigh shield worn by soldiers during the days of the early church. The epigonation symbolizes two things. First, it denotes the celebrant as a “soldier” of Christ. And second, it symbolizes the “sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:17) – the wearer’s defending of the faith by smiting all that is impure and vicious.
I, of course, follow the Slavic tradition, which is called “Russian” in the description above. But the Serbs and OCA have it, too!
Save Thy people, O Lord,
and bless Thine inheritance.
Grant victory to Thy Church over her enemies,
and protect Thy people by Thy Holy Cross!
Thank you for your explanation, dear FRiends!
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