Little Hagia Sophia in America; A church that rose from the ashes

In the heart of one of the quiet neighborhoods of America, the small and beautiful church of “Saint Nicholas” stands out; A building that reminds every passer-by of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul with its magnificent dome and columns. America’s “Little Hagia Sophia” is a symbol of the glory of Byzantine architecture in a modern land; Where history, faith and art find meaning together. (Suzanne Lovellinc)

Photographer: Unknown / Ground Zero Tours

Before 9/11, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church was known as a peaceful sanctuary amidst the hustle and bustle of South Manhattan.

This church was founded in 1916. Over the years, with the extensive changes in real estate and the replacement of old houses with high-rise towers, many investors tried to buy this property; But the church still stood.

Photographer: Unknown / MG McGrath

Years after the events of September 11, 2001 and collecting funds and going through long administrative procedures, the task of designing the new church of St. Nicholas was entrusted to a Spanish architect who described the church as “a presence on a human scale among a collection of giants.”

The new dome-shaped church is a compact and modern structure that serves as a sanctuary for prayer and, at the same time, a memorial to the impact of the terrorist attacks. The restoration of the church took many years for several reasons, including finding the exact location.

Photographer: Curbed / suzannelovellinc

This church is located about 7.5 meters above the ground and in a high part of “Liberty Park”. St. Nicholas Church is designed to be a smaller version of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul; A church that turned into a mosque 600 years ago.

The simple shape of the building includes a hemispherical dome surrounded by four square towers, giving the church a square structure.

Photographer: Michael Young / suzannelovellinc

The walls of the dome are made of thin sheets of “Pentelic marble” for two main reasons; First, the use of this material makes the building light up at night, and secondly, this type of marble is the same Greek marble that was used in the construction of the ancient temple “Parthenon” (Parthenon) in the Acropolis of Greece.

Thin slices of marble have allowed light to pass through; Therefore, the church becomes a “shining beacon” when the sun sets. The background light of these marbles is provided by LED lights that shine at night and create a building with a sign of hope and faith in South Manhattan.

Photographer: James Estrin / suzannelovellinc

All the details of the design of this church are based on Greek Orthodox traditions. Inside, beautiful frescoes were painted by a Greek monk depicting scenes from the life of Christ.

Photographer: Alan Karchmer / suzannelovellinc

Do you think that the reconstruction of symbols like Hagia Sophia in other countries can be a kind of cultural revival? In general and from your point of view, why do such buildings still inspire the architects of the world? Please let Kajaro and its companions know your valuable opinion.

Cover Photo Credit: DLR Group, Photographer Name: Unknown