The St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at Ground Zero in New York hosted a historic Epiphany ceremony on Sunday, January 12, marking the first Casting of the Holy Cross and Blessing of the Waters on the Hudson River in 23 years.
The event was a significant spiritual moment for the Orthodox community in America.
With the blessing of Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, the day began with Matins and the Divine Liturgy of the Sunday after Theophany, celebrated by Protopresbyter Rev. Fr. Andreas Vithoulkas and Rev. Fr. Samuel Davis.
The church was filled to capacity with over 500 worshippers from New York’s diverse Orthodox communities.
Following the service, a procession made its way to the North Cove Marina, located near the World Trade Centre. There, the Great Sanctification of Theophany took place, and the Holy Cross was cast into the Hudson River. Eight brave individuals, undeterred by the icy waters, dove in to retrieve the Cross.
Young Logan Triantafillou, the first to retrieve the Cross, received heartfelt congratulations and blessings. The ceremony’s spiritual atmosphere was further enhanced by the powerful chanting of Protopsaltis Dimitrios Katsiklis.
The event marked a milestone for the St Nicholas church, which was destroyed in the September 11, 2001 attacks.
The church’s revival is a testament to the dedication of Archbishop Elpidophoros, Rev. Fr. Vithoulkas, major benefactors like Michael Psaros, and the leadership of the parish council, including Dimitrios Papakostas and Executive Director Andy Veniopoulos.
Source: Orthodox Times.
