#REBUILDMYCHURCH

Heroes of Saint Nicholas

On the morning of September 11, 2001, heroes emerged at Ground Zero – many of whom gave their lives. Since that fateful day, there have been contributions of enormous significance to the rebuilding of the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine. These are the Heroes of Saint Nicholas.

Every month, we will highlight a person who played a special role in making the National Shrine a reality. The gratitude of the Greek Orthodox Church toward these people is truly incalculable. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts for what they have done to bring about the miraculous reconstruction of Saint Nicholas.

This month's Hero of Saint Nicholas is John V. Kassimatis - Read full announcement

On the morning of September 11, 2001, John V. Kassimatis, Archon Depoutatos of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and a Lieutenant in the Port Authority Police was on duty at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan. John is a well known figure in law enforcement in New York, and deeply committed to and involved with the Church. In the days, weeks and months after 9/11, he was instrumental in countless ways to facilitate the presence of the Archdiocese at Ground Zero, and in the recovery efforts of the few remaining objects of the Saint Nicholas Church on Cedar Street. Together with Fr. Alex Karloutsos (a Port Authority Chaplain), he facilitated the former Archbishop, His Eminence Demetrios, in returning to New York from Boston on 9/11, and enabling him to be present at Ground Zero in those first hours and days after the attack. Continue reading this announcement. 

Heroes of Saint Nicholas Recipients