Construction is nearing completion on St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in the Financial District. Designed by Santiago Calatrava and developed by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the structure sits atop Liberty Park by the intersection of Greenwich and Liberty Streets, and rests above part of the subterranean ramps for the vehicle security center at the World Trade Center.
Work has progressed quickly since our last update, with the reinforced concrete structure now nearly fully clad in marble and stone. The St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church recently held a blessing on Tuesday November 2 in which Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and Archbishop of New York Timothy Cardinal Dolan took part. The cross was also reinstalled back on the top of the dome.
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Photo by Michael Young
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Photo by Michael Young
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Photo by Michael Young
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Photo by Michael Young
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Photo by Michael Young
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Photo by Michael Young
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Photo by Michael Young
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Photo by Michael Young
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Photo by Michael Young
Much of the remaining external work is around the ground-floor entrance on the western side of the church. This portion will be covered with a gently curved canopy that faces the diamond-shaped garden beds stretching across Liberty Park. The two rounded corners await the installation of stone paneling atop their cylindrical sloped pinnacles.
An interesting detail in the façade is the four squares on the northern and southern walls that feature a tight grid of crosses, allowing air and daylight to pass through. Landscaping surrounds the perimeter of the church, and the staircase on the north side is complete though not open for use yet. The interiors should be well underway and we can expect the walls and ceilings to present a bright and elegant appearance underneath the tall dome. Previous renderings and photographs show the highest point of the dome having a colorful circular portrait of Jesus Christ.
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Photo by Michael Young
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Photo by Michael Young
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Photo by Michael Young
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Photo by Michael Young
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Photo by Michael Young
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Photo by Michael Young
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. Photo by Michael Young
Below is an etched marble slab found at the top of the ramps that lead up to Liberty Park.
Photo by Michael Young
An opening target of next April has been reported.
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Will add to my “must see” list on next visit to NYC!
Anxious to see lit at night! 🤗
The ‘Bunkeresque’ quality of this church doesn’t work for me.
Agreed a bit too fortress-y for me
Quite lovely.
Striking!
Such poetic justice that a Greek Orthodox Church be rebuilt after the Ottoman/Muslim destruction !
beautiful detailing throughout the facades.
While the stout geometry may not appeal to some, the structure does encapsulate the site gracefully nonetheless. Rather than heavy, it exudes an almost otherworldly, ethereal lightness, and it will bring peace, humility, and unity to all. Particularly at night, the translucency of the stone, will illuminate the surrounding environs by the blessed light from within.
They’re about to put a 900-foot-tall building right next to it. It’s going to look like the house in “Up!” — walled in by giants on three sides.