St. Nicholas National Shrine — Local services in New York

The St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in New York City is a stunning church located in the Financial District of Manhattan. The church was built to replace the original St. Nicholas Church, which was destroyed in the September 11 terrorist attacks. Construction began in 2015 and was completed in 2021. The new church stands at 130 Liberty Street and is adjacent to the World Trade Center site. It was designed by Santiago Calatrava, a renowned architect known for his innovative and futuristic designs.

The new St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church features a unique, domed structure that resembles a dove in flight. The church is made of white marble and is adorned with intricate carvings and mosaics. The dome, which stands at 77 feet tall, is made of steel and glass and is illuminated at night, giving the church a beautiful and ethereal glow. The church also features a beautiful courtyard, a museum, and a bookstore. It serves as a symbol of hope and resilience for the city of New York and the Greek Orthodox community.

Fun fact: The St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in New York City is the only church in the world dedicated to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker that has been designed in the Byzantine style. St. Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors, and the church's location near the water in the Financial District of Manhattan makes it a fitting tribute to him, as he is often invoked by sailors for protection and...

Absolutely stunning church with Calatrava's signature features written all over it, making it an instantly recognizable structure in the city!

It looks massive but it is a very subtle structure situated on the east end of Liberty park, perfectly fitting into the concrete/glass jungle like downtown Manhattan is. I must admit it looks a bit like a nuclear power plant building to me, but that's not where Calatrava got inspired, in fact it was by Byzantine architecture style. It might not be everyone's cup of tea but it definitely draws attention!

The entry is free, of course, and it's definitely worth making an effort to visit. The interior is stunning, very colorful with a lot of attention to detail - whether it's on the painting on the walls, or the marble finished at the altar. The main dome is very light inside thanks to the transluminant walls and ceiling that lets sunlight through creating a fantastic atmosphere!

Unfortunately there are no description panels or iconography brochures to grab, instead there is an electronic screen panel at the lobby offering some information about the church. The most information and full iconography can be found online, so check the website, after all the Wi-Fi here is fast, free and reliable! No toilets available.

Definitely a place with a magnitude of impact worth visiting! Visited...

The shrine is there because it was on that block before the World Trade Center was even built ... and, rebuilding it there was part of the deal that deeded this block to the WTC for a new Vehicle Security Center building. A park, including the shrine, will cover the roof of the VSC. Without the WTC gaining the land in this way, vehicles could never feasibly access or service the new WTC buildings at all, since half the WTC's pre-existing land is now devoted to the National 9/11 Memorial. The VSC building will also accommodate tour buses attracted by the new Memorial. So, in a way, the Greek shrine has donated land to the WTC rather than vice versa. More accurately, it's a win-win. The old church shrine was very plain outside; the new one is a simple yet lofty work of Santiago Calatrava's architecture. Like Notre Dame in Paris, it will be open to the public (primarily for tourists, but also with public program space) in addition to serving its congregation. The "cathedral," as their church calls it, is a "national" shrine only in that it is the seat of their ranking American bishop; it has no connection to the government. Its exterior lacks dominating Christian symbols or art; it just...