The Memorial Service began with a procession by the Color Guards, which was followed by the National Anthem presented by Detective Makiah Brown. Archbishop Elpidophoros led a solemn Memorial Service according to the Greek Orthodox tradition for the Orthodox faithful who perished that day.

Presenting remarks on the occasion was The Honorable Vicky Hartzler, Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, which was followed by the passionate chanting of Funerary Psalm 22 by Mr. Dimitrios Katsikis, Master Chanter of St. Nicholas Shrine. Also presenting was Fr. Anthony Palumbo, who spoke about his personal experience as a 15-year-old who lost his father, a firefighter, on 9/11. He described how receiving love on that day changed his life and led him to Christ.

 

In his closing remarks, Archbishop Elpidophoros offered comforting words of hope and healing, honoring first responders: “In this most pluralistic City of the United States—with more languages and religious traditions than any other—in New York, we come together, each in our own way, to support one another, and to encounter one another with the most basic expression of our shared human nature. As such, we come together to make a commitment … that the hatred and cruelty of 9/11 have no place in our world, that love, empathy, and mercy shall prevail in our world today and tomorrow.”

 

Representing the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches were His Grace Bishop Irinej of Washington-New York and Eastern America of the Serbian Orthodox Church; the Very Rev. Archpriest Thomas Zain (representing His Eminence Metropolitan Saba of the Antiochian Archdiocese); His Grace Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan (Armenian Apostolic Church); and His Grace Bishop David (Coptic Orthodox Church, President of the Standing Conference of Oriental Orthodox Churches).

 

Ecumenical and interfaith attendees included: His Excellency Archbishop Gabriele Caccia (Holy See Mission to the UN); His Excellency Bishop James Massa (representing both His Eminence Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, and His Excellency Bishop Robert J. Brennan of Brooklyn); together with representatives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; the Episcopal Church; the National Council of Churches; the American Jewish Committee; and the Interfaith Center of New York.

 

Source: goarch.org

Photo by Orthodox Observer/Brittainy Newman