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OCU Primate arrives to the USA to receive the Athenagoras Human Rights Award

18.10.2019, 12:19
OCU Primate arrives to the USA to receive the Athenagoras Human Rights Award - фото 1

Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and all Ukraine is on a visit to the United States. He shared this information on his Facebook page.

”My first visit to the United States of America as the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine has begun," the Metropolitan said.

Metropolitan Epifaniy informed that he and the delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate arrived in New York, where they started their visit with a special place - the Church of St. Nicholas of the American Archdiocese of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, which is located on the territory of the World Trade Center in Manhattan.

According to him, today the temple is still under construction, the previous temple of the same name was destroyed in the terrible terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, when the South and North towers of the world trade center were attacked by terrorists.

The Metropolitan stressed that this Church is the only building that was not part of the original world trade center complex and that was completely destroyed in the attacks.

As the head of the OCU noted, although there was still a lot of work ahead, the temple resembles the Cathedral of St. Sophia of Constantinople, which was inspired by the architect of the project Santiago Calatrava.

"Located in Liberty Park overlooking the September 11 National Memorial and Museum, the Church of St. Nicholas is like a window into eternity, where those who died here innocently and unjustly departed. In the middle of one of the most powerful and dynamic cities in the world, the temple is a good haven for strengthening the spirit and sincere prayer for the victims of the terrorist attack-it is officially established that more than 3,000 people died, including 12 Ukrainians. The names of the victims are immortalized in the memory of the whole country and inscribed on memorial plaques of grief, which are exhibited in Lower Manhattan,” said the First Hierarch of the OCU.

He also added that together with the delegation he visited the Memorial complex and Museum dedicated to the victims of the September 11 tragedy.

It is planned that on October 19 in New York the Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine will receive an award - "Athenagoras Human Rights Award".