A church destroyed by terror vows to rebuild.

The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks destroyed the venerable St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, which sat in the shadow of the doomed twin towers.

But it did not kill the spirit of parishioners, who have waged a decade-long battle to reclaim their land and rebuild the shattered sanctuary.

"To have their church obliterated like that was a tremendous psychological, spiritual shock," Father Mark Arey said. "Because losing the church was like losing a family member."

St. Nicholas was crushed when the South Tower collapsed, giving it the sad distinction of being the only house of worship destroyed on that terrible day.

A black-and-white photograph of the church just before the building fell - taken by New York-based photographer Eric O'Connell - has become an icon for Greek-Americans who pine for their old sanctuary.

"Both towers are on fire and the church is sitting there as peaceful and as lovely and as humble as it has been sitting there since 1916," Arey said. "The contrast of hatred and love I am not sure I have ever seen it in a photograph as starkly contrasted."

Nobody was in St. Nicholas when it was destroyed, but the congregation was forced to migrate across the East River to the St. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Brooklyn.

Maria Hatzidoukas and her family, faithful members of St. Nicholas since 1970, make that trip every Sunday from their homes in New Jersey.

"Hopefully someday we'll rebuild," she said. "Hopefully before we close our eyes. Many parishioners, that's what they say. We hope they rebuild Saint Nicholas before they close their eyes."

St. Nicholas lost its previous address at 155 Cedar St. to the Port Authority, which is building a new Vehicle Security Center on that spot.

Church attorney Mark Cunha said they are determined to rebuild at the World Trade Center site "on a parcel of land that is suitable for a church."

"I am confident that the church is going to get rebuilt and that is going to get rebuilt on the WTC site," he said. "I think the church is 100% in the right here."

The Port Authority declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation.

http://911anniversary.nydailynews.com/church-destroyed-terror-vows-rebuild