Metr. Tikhon Issues Message on 25th Anniversary of 9/11

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Metr. Tikhon, Archbishop of Washington and Metropolitan of All America and Canada, called on the faithful of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) to remember in prayer those who died in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Marking the 25th anniversary, he also asked prayers for survivors, first responders, and all those who continue to suffer from wounds associated with that day.

Metr. Tikhon noted that nearly 3,000 people were killed at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and aboard United Airlines Flight 93, while countless others in the United States and abroad had their lives permanently changed. He observed that a generation has now grown up without personal memories of September 11, while for survivors, bereaved families, and first responders, the passage of 25 years has not erased the pain. He also noted the continuing deaths from illnesses contracted while working amid the ruins.

The Metropolitan emphasized that Christian remembrance is more than recalling the past. Through prayer, the Church commends those who have fallen asleep to God’s mercy while bringing its own wounds before Christ, “the Great Physician of souls and bodies.” He warned that remembering past tragedies must not become a reason to harden hearts or diminish love for one’s neighbor.

It is a spiritual help to us that each year our remembrance of September 11 comes just days before the feast of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross. The Cross reminds us that suffering and death do not have the final word. And the risen Christ, victorious over death, still bears the wounds of His Passion. When He appeared to His disciples after His Resurrection, He showed them His hands and His side (Jn. 20:20). His wounds were not erased by the resurrection; rather, they have become signs of His victory, His mercy, and His boundless love for mankind.

His Eminence called for prayers for the victims, their families and friends, survivors, first responders, and all who continue to carry wounds from September 11. He also urged prayer for peace throughout the world and for deliverance from hatred, fear, and despair. “May the memory of those who lost their lives be eternal,” he concluded, “and may the God of all consolation grant healing, peace, and hope to all.”

Previously, the UOJ reported that the OCA launched a $50,000 effort to support Ukrainian refugees in Poland.