The American Spectator : Where St. Nicholas Once Stood

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Where St. Nicholas Once Stood

Shouldn't the rebuilding of a Greek Orthodox church at Ground Zero have priority over construction of an Islamic Center?

With all the talk of building a mosque in the shadow of the World Trade Center, how many of you knew there was a church that once stood in the shadow of the World Trade Center? And how many of you knew this same church was destroyed on September 11, 2001?

I must confess that until a few weeks ago I wasn't aware that a church was among the property that was leveled in Lower Manhattan that Tuesday morning. When the South Tower collapsed, it took St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church with it. All that remained were two religious icons and handful of liturgical items. Fortunately, no one was inside St. Nicholas at the time of the collapse. But what had been the center of the Greek Orthodox community in New York City for nearly eighty years was wiped out in a matter of seconds.

Under the circumstances, one would think a house of worship would be rebuilt forthwith. How many religious institutions in America are destroyed as a result of an act of terrorism? Imagine for a moment that on September 11, 2001, a mosque had been destroyed in the vicinity of the World Trade Center. Don't you think heaven and earth would have been moved to rebuild that mosque? Yet nine years later, not an inch of brick or mortar has been laid down to rebuild St. Nicholas.

As the City of New York was approving plans for the construction of the Ground Zero Mosque, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey jettisoned a deal that would have permitted the rebuilding of St. Nicholas. Of course, the Ground Zero Mosque has powerful allies with the likes of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and President Obama both of whom expressed their support for the mosque as a matter of religious freedom. Yet where were Mayor Bloomberg's tears for St. Nicholas? What does President Obama have to say about the right of the Greek Orthodox community "to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in Lower Manhattan"?

Despite the obfuscation of Mayor Bloomberg and President Obama, not to mention the obstinacy of the Port Authority, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church is not without friends. None has been more vocal than George Demos, a former prosecutor with the Securities and Exchange Commission, who is currently seeking the Republican nomination for New York's 1st Congressional District. (The GOP primary takes place on September 14 and among his competitors is Christopher Nixon Cox, grandson of the late President Nixon.)

Demos made people sit up and take notice when he issued a statement that read, "Rebuild the Church at Ground Zero, Not a Mosque." He subsequently wrote an open letter to President Obama calling on him to "please stand up and defend our Judeo-Christian values, express your public and unwavering support for St. Nicholas Church, and ensure that it is rebuilt." As of this writing, President Obama has not responded to Demos' letter either privately or publicly. However, Demos has been able to enlist the support of former New York Governor George Pataki as well as Tim Bishop, the incumbent Democratic Congressman who will be Demos' opponent in November if he wins the GOP primary next week. Demos has posted an online petition to gather signatures in support of rebuilding St. Nicholas (to which I have affixed my signature).

Earlier this week, Demos took a few minutes away from his busy campaign to speak with me over the phone. Demos, who is Greek Orthodox, reserved most of his displeasure for the Port Authority. He described it as an entity awash in "bureaucratic inertia" and "answerable to no one." He also expressed disappointment with New York Governor David Paterson. Specifically, he took Paterson to task for his appointment of Chris Ward as executive director of the Port Authority. Rebuilding St. Nicholas has not been a priority for Ward, Demos pointed out, and he remains unwilling to meet with church officials.

Regardless of the outcome of the GOP primary, Demos also told me that he would continue to speak out on behalf of St. Nicholas. "This isn't a political issue. This isn't a partisan issue. It is an issue that speaks to our Judeo-Christian values," Demos said. However, he added that if he were to be the nominee and ultimately win election to Congress, he would have "a bigger platform" from which to support the reconstruction of St. Nicholas.

If you're looking for a way to engage in civic action on September 11 more meaningful than throwing copies of the Koran into a bonfire, you might consider lending your support to the rebuilding of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. A donation of your time, money, or other materials will be welcome. Donations can be sent to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, P.O. Box 340968, Brooklyn, New York 11234.

About the Author

Aaron Goldstein writes from Boston, Massachusetts.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (61) | Leave a comment

GreginOkinawa| 9.9.10 @ 7:06AM

The Muslims can build a Mosque at ground zero when the the Christians can build a Mosque in Mecca. What's fair is fair I always say.

Bob K.| 9.9.10 @ 9:25AM

Greg,
Do you want to reword that? Why would Christians need a Mosque in Mecca?

I think our taxes have been used in the recent past to build a number of Muslim places of worship in the Near East.

Kevin| 9.9.10 @ 9:49AM

About 31% of Saudi Arabia are foreign nationals, including at least 1 million Christians. I'd say that reason enough to build a church there.

Bob K.| 9.9.10 @ 10:04AM

i agree, but a church is not a mosque.

loulou| 9.9.10 @ 1:49PM

Are the Filipino and Indonesian slaves in Saudi Arabia Muslim or Christian?

Patrick| 9.9.10 @ 2:11PM

Most of the Filipino slaves would be Christian, at least until forcefully converted, and a majority of the Indonesian slaves would be Muslim.

Alan Brooks| 9.9.10 @ 9:14PM

"Most of the Filipino slaves would be Christian, at least until forcefully converted, and a majority of the Indonesian slaves would be Muslim."

And ALL the women are slaves. In SA, women do what men tell them to do.

Mark| 9.9.10 @ 3:46PM

Is Saudi Arabia really the metric by which we should judge our own actions? I hope we can aim a bit higher than that. If we're gonna behave a certain way, let it be because we don't give a good goddam what Saudi Arabia does. If we can't be more fair than Saudi Arabia, we fail as a free nation.

Jonathan M.| 9.9.10 @ 6:46PM

It's called an eye for an eye, Mark. Maybe you've heard of it? Camel humping sand n*ggers want to build a victory mosque on our land, we'll go in and build a victory church (for our slaughter and enslavement of those dirty animals) on their land.

PC liberals are so annoying.

Martha| 9.10.10 @ 2:03AM

As a Christian, I am ashamed of you and your comments.

mad libertarian guy| 9.9.10 @ 4:09PM

Why is it that we should base American freedoms off of what those in other countries might do?

The idea is absurd.

Either way, this isn't an issue of religious freedom, but one of property rights. If you claim at all to hold private property as something to protect, you have no say in this argument because it isn't your property. If the property owners want a mosque, that is their fundamental right.

Alan Brooks| 9.9.10 @ 9:16PM

Speaking of property, Mr. libertarian shill, women in Islam ARE property.

So up yours.

Appleby| 9.10.10 @ 5:55AM

I bet you are 100% against the Israelis building on their own land in the Gaza and on the West Bank, arent you?

djn| 9.10.10 @ 2:31PM

The mosque is being built for one reason near the 9/11 site, to honor the muslim terrorists that died and to commerate the islamic victory. The iman's refusal to move mosque to another site proves this fact.

As for his right as a property owner, our cowardly PC leaders could use "eminent domain" to give him a fair price for the property. This would be for the common good for all Americans and relieve the pain of those who lost loved ones from the muslim attack on innocent people.

Old Soldier| 9.9.10 @ 7:21AM

I have been following the St. Nicholas story for some time. The hypocrisy of Bloomberg and his ilk are on full display with this one. He is willing to put the power of his office behind the Ground Zero Mosque and can call me names for having reservations about it. Meanwhile the parish of a Christian church is ignored and thrown to the bureaucrats.

It’s beyond political correctness – it is blatant open favoritism for forces hostile to western civilization and discrimination against Christians.

Margie| 9.9.10 @ 1:20PM

Thank you Old Soldier, for telling it like it is.

mad libertarian guy| 9.9.10 @ 4:13PM

Of course every article on the matter neglects to mention that it is a zoning issue which prevents the church from being built, not some presumed anti-Christian bias.

Seriously. If anyone truly thinks that we have some measurable anti-Cgristian bias which takes it's form in disallowing churches, they're utter and complete idiots and should be treated as such.

Rory Connally| 9.9.10 @ 8:27PM

I think we can safely assume that planning, land-use and zoning issues would also scupper this mosque project were it not for an anti-christian bias that throws the church on the mercy of the bureauocrats, but somehow exempts the well-connected Moslems. Any project in this part of New York takes years ansd years to get through the bureaucracy- why is this mosque moving so fast?

Martha| 9.10.10 @ 2:06AM

How about some references then? Back up what you're saying with some evidence.

Nick Kolokotronis| 9.9.10 @ 9:03PM

I agree with Old Soldier... I was baptized at St. Nicholas and was married there in 2000... I want to see the church built as it fairly should be. Thank you Old Soldier!

God Bless our supporters,

Reverend Nicholas Kolokotronis

djn| 9.10.10 @ 2:35PM

I am sure bloomberg is benefiting financially for allowing this evil iman to build near the 9/11 site. There are reports bloomberg will receive favorable treatment for some Middle East projects he has interests in if he supports the mosque.

Appleby| 9.9.10 @ 7:31AM

The Greek Orthodox Christians will not kill anybody if they do not get to rebuild their church.

That is what Mayor Bloomberg will not say aloud, but that is surely what he is afraid of if he does not allow the Islamists to build their conquerors triumphal mosque in view of their greatest triumph.

The fat lady has not yet taken the stage, Mayor Bloomberg, but she is warming up in the wings. Today begins Rosh Hashanah. Might be time for you to try to remember where you left your Bible.

martin j smith| 9.9.10 @ 7:56AM

What shows the true hypocrisy of the so called debate about the 9/11 Ground Zero Mosque is the almost total lack of focus on this house of worship .
It is simply another sign of the utter contempt that Mayor Bloomberg and his fellow travelers have for the people of NYC.

Ryan| 9.9.10 @ 8:42AM

I'd be willing to offer this deal - the mosque can go up after the church does, with Muslim money for both.

Old Soldier| 9.9.10 @ 8:52AM

Makes sense - they knocked it down.

Mark| 9.9.10 @ 3:54PM

And should you, Ryan and Old Soldier, have to pay reparations to the rape victims of Christian mobs in Nigeria (I hope I'm not makeing a great leap to assume you're both christian)? Or to the families of gay men killed by people who thought they were doing god's work? How about for all the damage done by Mexican Cartels who describe themselves as feircely Catholic?

Of course not, you didn't do any of those things, just as the Suffi muslim sect who wants to build the NY community center had nothing to do with 9/11. Religions are not great monolithic entities, presenting a single, unbreaking face to the world. They are all made up of individuals who may disagree with others of the same faith about how that faith should guide them. To paint with an overly broad brush that all muslims are responsible in some way for 9/11 is to do injustice to all religion.

mad libertarian guy| 9.9.10 @ 4:15PM

I'll assume the question was rhetorical, and add that I doubt he'd agree to pay any sense of reparations for killing tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of innocent civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mark| 9.9.10 @ 4:25PM

Wait, who killed civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan? I'm confused by your response.

Old Soldier| 9.9.10 @ 11:07PM

Here's the difference. Unlike Rauf, I don't do business with those people, don't get money from them, and half-heartedly denounce them - while pointing out it's really all America's fault.

djn| 9.10.10 @ 2:41PM

How about telling the whole story about Africa? You failed to mention that muslim mobs are killing Christians throughout Africa. I am guessing you are muslim or just a clueless PC liberal twisting the facts?

Jim O'Brien| 9.9.10 @ 8:53AM

I wonder if Obama has considered allocating some of the $50 billion "infrastructure" money to build new mosques.

Steve| 9.9.10 @ 6:28PM

That's the spirit. Instead of whining about how the Port Authority hasn't given you enough public funds, go raise private funds, volunteer labor and donations of materials and get on with building. As you say, "That is the way we built most of our churches throughout America." I'd only add that it's the way the Park51 Muslim Community Center is being built, too.

Old Soldier| 9.9.10 @ 10:59PM

Unfortunately it isn't lack of funds or manpower that is blocking construction. It is the Port Authority and City of NY who will not grant permission to rebuild.

Martha| 9.10.10 @ 2:11AM

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese has already been quoted as willing to pay for the reconstruction. (Leadership 100 has to find someway to spend all that money.) So I think you need to focus on obtaining the permits.

GKPAL| 9.9.10 @ 10:05AM

Mr. Goldstein, I want to thank you very much for your article above. I'm sure you had many other topics to write about, but you choosed to write about our little church of St. Nicholas. Thank you again and may St. Nicholas bless you and your family.

JuliaHope| 9.9.10 @ 10:23AM

GOT GET 'EM DEMOS!!!! I love a regular Joe, with baggage and all, giving hell to the political fat cats! I often think of running for congress, but either the media would annihilate me because I'm a conservative who didn't live their life assuming it would be anally probed, or I would knock myself out by calling these people a bunch of f***ing idiots! Alot!

Oldefarte| 9.9.10 @ 12:57PM

As I've previously said, I support the koran burning by the Florida church as a counter weight/argument to the Muslims' desire to build a mosque at ground zero as a terrorism subversive mechanism. That said, I [and most all other rational people] would support the building of a Greek Orthodox Church there, for the simply reason that the Greek Orthodox religion [or Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, Jewish, Mormon,etc religions also] DID NOT FOSTER THE COMMANDEERING OF 4 AIRPLANES BY 19 RELIGIOUS RADICALS OF THEIR FAITHS AND FLYING SAME INTO THREE BUILDINGS, MURDERING 3000 INNOCENT INHABITANTS OF SAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mark| 9.9.10 @ 3:58PM

Neither did the Suffi Muslims. You can't blame an entire religion for the actions of a lunatic fringe. If you could, us christains would have to accept responsibility for the actions of the Mexican cartels, which in some sick and twisted way consider themselves to be "christian warriors."

mad libertarian guy| 9.9.10 @ 4:19PM

No. We Americans settle for killing innocent civilians by the tens or hundreds of thousands via the use of overt military force under the cover of what are arguably bald faced lies.

Margie| 9.9.10 @ 6:34PM

I think you need to go crawl back into your cave.

jones| 9.9.10 @ 9:53PM

You're mad, I'll give ya that

Marijan Favetti| 9.11.10 @ 2:03PM

Hey Mark, It's a non sequetor, do the Mexican Cartel owners sell their drugs in the name of Christ? So how can you by any stretch of imagination combine the two ideas?

Jeremy Stevens| 9.9.10 @ 1:13PM

The Very Reverend Robert Stephanopoulos, father of ABC's George Stephanopoulos, is the Dean Emeritus of New York City's Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

What does THIS family have to say about this injustice?

Martha| 9.10.10 @ 2:13AM

Who cares? There are hundreds of Greek Orthodox priests in the U.S. and many thousand prominent Greek Americans. Why are you focusing on the Stephanopoulos family?

Steve| 9.9.10 @ 1:25PM

From the Fox News story you linked to:

"The Port Authority and the church announced a deal in July 2008 under which the Port Authority would grant land and up to $20 million to help rebuild the church -- in addition, the authority was willing to pay up to $40 million to construct a bomb-proof platform underneath. "

OK, so the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church wanted $60 million in public funds to rebuild their church, and when they didn't get it, they claimed the city was making it impossible for them to rebuild. Meanwhile, the Park51 Muslim Community Center goes forward, raising its funds from private donors, not asking for a single cent of taxpayer money.

And which group do "conservatives" support?

James| 9.9.10 @ 2:07PM

Hi Steve,
I'm just wondering. Did they give you an office or a cubical in the DOJ?

Texas Mom 2010| 9.9.10 @ 3:49PM

Bomb proof platform, I assume is for the safety of subway passengers and is the responsibility of the Port Authority. In addition the Authority has received tax funds to rebuild this area. Why should the church not get the funds? It was destroyed 9/11. Is it just because it is a Church? Seems likely.

Minnesota Mama| 9.9.10 @ 5:04PM

The PA is building a facility under the location to check for bombs and other explosives. That's what ehe bomb proof platform is for, and that will be built regardless of what goes in above it. The only funds the church should get is fair compensation to replace what was lost. Period, same as any other private company or business.

Martha| 9.10.10 @ 2:18AM

Hello....? The Port Authority is offering land of that amount because they are not willing to give St. Nicholas back its original property. It's not like the church is getting land for nothing. It's getting replacement property for where the church originally stood.

The bomb proof platform is not a usual structure of a Greek Orthodox church, just FYI. The Port Authority has to pay for it because it is the Port Authority that requires it.

djn| 9.10.10 @ 2:43PM

Private donors with blood on their hands!

Louis Jenkins| 9.9.10 @ 1:41PM

Yes, and we will wait and see how much tax money will be offered up by the Pretender n Chief for construction of the Ground Zero mosque. Rauf is touring the middle east for contributions on the tax payer dime, and Obumar will get on board too. Let's wait and see.

Tyler S.| 9.9.10 @ 4:05PM

He's been touring the middle east as an ambassador of goodwill for the US, actually. An interesting position to be in since we seem to have no goodwill for him. Well, good for him for being the bigger man, I guess.

loulou| 9.9.10 @ 1:51PM

I've come to the conclusion that NO MOSQUES should be built in this country. If Islam becomes a civilized religion (or whatever it is) we can reconsider. But that would take hundreds of years to purge the Muslims of their murderous, barbaric habits.

Minnesota Mama| 9.9.10 @ 3:36PM

There's been nothing stopping the rebuilding of St Nicholas but the Diocese. It's all about money. It's all about greed and stinginess - the Diocese wanted more and the PA wasn't going to pay up.

How much has the parish raised for the rebuilding - not counting the last few weeks when they started getting publicity because of this Mosque fiasco? How long has it been since the talks broke down? Have they gotten any support and money from Greece? From private citizens and groups in Greece?

No government money should be going into either the church or the mosque. The Diocese should receive fair compensation for replacing - as best as possible - what was lost. No tax breaks, nothing. If someone's got private property, and they want to build a church or a mosque or a temple or a strip club or whatever, and they can raise the money for it, and there isn't anything illegal going on, it's their own damn business.

What the heck kind of conservatives are you people?

mad libertarian guy| 9.9.10 @ 4:27PM

Social Conservatives.

And your comment is spot-on. They like small government when Dems have their way, but for their own pet causes, they insist on every bit as much government intervention as those on Team Blue. Despite their lofty positions, they are no more moral than their libertarded counterparts when it comes to the use of government force.

Herb Tarlek| 9.9.10 @ 5:33PM

NeoConservatives. We are fine with vast overreach of federal powers so long as we are in power but become civil libertarians when we are not.

Texas Mom 2010| 9.9.10 @ 3:56PM

So you are saying that because this is a church that the funds provided to rebuild this area should not be available to them? Really? The people who attended this church may be of Greek descent but they ARE Americans not Greeks.
As far as the funding is concerned, it IS our business if terrorist sponsors (that the US govt have named) provide funds for either St. Nicholas or the GZMosque. We do have a right to know where the $100bil is coming from...

Minnesota Mama| 9.9.10 @ 5:00PM

Because it is a church, nothing beyond fair compensation for what was lost should be given, same as for any other building or property. Let them raise money same as anyone else. The government doesn't owe them a building ten times the size of the original (which was originally a tavern).

The PA spokes man said:
"St. Nicholas Orthodox Church has always had and will continue to have the right to rebuild on its original location. The question was whether public money would be spent to build a much larger church at a separate location on the site and ensuring that construction wouldn't delay the World Trade Center further. On that question, we worked for many years to reach an agreement and offered up to 60 million dollars of public money to build that much larger new church. After reaching what we believed was an agreement in 2008, representatives of the church wanted even more public commitments, including unacceptable approvals on the design of the Vehicle Security Center that threatened to further delay the construction on the World Trade Center and the potential for another $20 million of public funds."

Sounds like they had more than fair compensation offered, and turned it down. They need to quit whining and get back to the fundraising.

And those same "terrorist sponsors" own large chunks of conservative American media already, including Fox News. There's several "dog & pony shows" going on with this whole stinkin' fiasco, and they're borrowing each other's acts. Before this is over they'll all be sharing the same fleas.

BoyGeorge| 9.9.10 @ 4:01PM

It does point out, though, that the article is deceptive. There's a big difference between actively impeding the church and not offering them as much money to rebuild as they want, no?

Emma| 9.9.10 @ 11:22PM

Of course the Greek Orthodox facility is not a priority. The Greeks aren't threatening to kill Americans if they don't get a building.

Kentigern| 9.14.10 @ 10:31AM

The Port Authority's tower fell on the church and the Authority wanted to reorganize the site along with many costly infrastructure aspects. Their rebuilding plans have engulfed and in effect erased the private church's rebuilding. The Authority needs to get back to the table with the church and figure out how to get this done. It's a real shame. The Authority's director Chris Ward has a graduate degree from the Harvard Divinity School so he's well-educated in theology, perhaps from some kind of non-traditional perspective. In any case the Authority seems to be displaying a bias against Orthodox Christianity perceived as a combination of "ethnic," traditional and politically marginally despite its 2,000-year history; if this were a Catholic church or elite historic Protestant church I think we would have seen movement long ago. It's a real shame again and will I hope have political repercussions.