He signed an ornamented book of Gospels to be used in worship at the church, as did other dignitaries including Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.īartholomew also presented as a gift a relic of St. The white-bearded patriarch, wearing black and ornately decorated white vestments, then blessed the shrine's glass doors with holy water and tapped them with his staff before entering. They included a contorted bell and a torn icon honoring the Virgin Mary. It began with the patriarch's blessing of a large cross, adorned with a wreath, which was then hoisted by crane atop the dome.īartholomew and others joined in a quiet procession with youths bearing crosses and candles before stopping to bless various items from the original church that were damaged on 9/11 but not destroyed. Tuesday's ceremony was largely held outdoors beneath an overcast sky, to the backdrop of choral chants.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |