St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine

St. Nicholas replaced the original church of the same name that was destroyed during the September 11 attacks in 2001—the only house of worship, and only building outside the original World Trade Center complex, to be completely destroyed.  Its architecture draws from Byzantine influences, namely the Church of the Savior and the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, as well as from the Parthenon in Athens. One of the most unique features of his design is a glowing façade made of 1,000 eighth-inch thick panels of Pentelic marble, sandwiched between panes of glass. This material allows light to indirectly filter into the church during the day and for the walls to have a warm glow from the outside at night.  In addition to serving as a Greek Orthodox parish, St. Nicholas is officially planned as a "House of Prayer for all people" that will function as a national shrine and community center, incorporating a secular bereavement space, social hall, and various educational and interfaith programs.