Sold-out inaugural gala raises $2 million for the Shrine, honors 9/11 heroes, and launches a new annual tradition

NEW YORK, NY – September 19, 2025 – Beneath the warm glow of Casa Cipriani, the Historic Inaugural Saint Nicholas Shrine Beacon of Hope Dinner became a defining moment for the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine, and for the Greek Orthodox faithful across America. The sold-out event welcomed 500 guests and raised a record-breaking $2 million for the Shrine’s ongoing operations, the most ever raised by a parish at an event of this kind, according to Father Alex Karloutsos. Due to overwhelming demand, next year’s Beacon of Hope Awards Dinner will expand seating to accommodate even more faithful eager to support this growing tradition.

The Shrine as America’s Parthenon

Michael G. Psaros, Vice Chairman of the St. Nicholas Board of Trustees, offered a powerful reflection on the journey that brought the Shrine to this moment. He described the church as both America’s Parthenon and America’s Hagia Sophia, the most visible symbol of Hellenism and Orthodoxy in the United States. He recounted the twenty-year struggle to rebuild after 9/11, noting that nearly $100 million had been raised to construct and launch the National Shrine. Psaros reminded guests that since its opening in December 2023, nearly 600,000 visitors from around the world have walked through its doors, most of them not Greek Orthodox, drawn by its message of light conquering darkness, good triumphing over evil, love overcoming hate, and resurrection defeating death.

Psaros expressed gratitude to Father Alex Karloutsos, the Friends of Saint Nicholas, major donors, governors, and partners who made the project possible. He shared that the Platytera icon of the Panagia has been named as a prayer for her protection over New York City, the nation, and the first responders who continue to serve selflessly.

A Call to Healing

Archbishop Elpidophoros spoke about the Shrine’s vocation as a national and global witness. He described the evening as a giant leap forward for the mission of Saint Nicholas, a commemoration of the heroes of September 11 and a celebration of the renewed life of this historic community. He emphasized that the Shrine was resurrected not simply because it had been destroyed, but because it was destined to serve as a place of healing, reconciliation, and witness for every person who comes seeking solace. He honored the parishioners, clergy, and leaders whose prayers, sweat, and tears made the resurrection possible and affirmed that the Shrine is now the most visible Orthodox Christian church in the United States.

Honoring the Heroes

The emotional centerpiece of the evening was the presentation of the Beacon of Hope Award to the NYPD, FDNY, and PAPD, the heroic first responders whose courage and sacrifice on September 11 remain etched in the heart of the nation. Their memory is permanently enshrined within the Shrine itself, in the funeral oration of Pericles carved into the marble walls and in the Resurrection icon, where uniformed first responders stand with the Risen Christ as eternal witnesses to faith, courage, and resurrection.

A Spiritual Conclusion

The evening culminated with the moving address of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. He paid tribute to the men and women who rushed into the Twin Towers to save others on September 11, reminding all present that their sacrifice shines like stars in the heavens and stands as a moral compass for future generations. He reflected on the words of Christ engraved on the Shrine’s marble walls, that the greatest love is to lay down one’s life for one’s friends and spoke of the sacred connection between Constantinople’s Phanar and Ground Zero, symbolized by soil from the East transplanted into the Shrine’s grounds. This act, he said, unites the faith and history of the old world with the hope and mission of the new. His All-Holiness concluded with a blessing that the Shrine’s light may continue to radiate throughout the city and around the world as a beacon of hope, faith, and love.

The Everlasting Beacon

The Hero Cross, the Resurrection icon, and every image within Saint Nicholas tell a single story, a story of faith unshaken by fear and of divine light shining through the darkness. As guests departed, they carried with them the clear message of the night: the courage of the first responders transcends time, their legacy is sacred, and they will forever remain the beacon of hope at the heart of the Saint Nicholas National Shrine.

This historic inaugural dinner, now confirmed to become an annual tradition, marked the most successful parish fundraising event in history and set the tone for future gatherings that will continue to inspire, heal, and unite. With the Patriarch’s blessing, the faithful were reminded that the Saint Nicholas National Shrine is not merely a church, but a national symbol, a sanctuary of prayer, and a radiant light of Orthodoxy and hope for generations to come.