A Milestone Moment at St. Paul’s

Walking through St. Paul’s Chapel the afternoon of March 7, Mark Akoubian – a first-time visitor to both the chapel and New York City – found himself surrounded by “so many moving images” and an atmosphere brimming with “so much love.”

ONE-MILLIONTH VISITOR - On March 7, Mark Akoubian of Southern California (right) was the one-millionth visitor to St. Paul's "Out of the Dust" exhibit honoring the chapel's 9/11 ministry. He was accompanied by his girlfriend Sanja Stanojevic, his cousin, 12-year-old Susie Klusendorf, and Susie's mother, Debra Bogosian.

As he neared the chapel exit, Akoubian and his companions – girlfriend Sanja Stanojevic, his cousin, 12-year-old Susie Klusendorf, and Susie’s mother, Debra Bogosian – were suddenly approached by a Trinity Television crew, about a dozen smiling faces, and the Rev. Dr. Daniel P. Matthews, rector of Trinity Church.

“You are the one-millionth visitor to St. Paul’s 9/11 exhibit,” Dr. Matthews announced, reaching out to shake Akoubian’s hand. Stunned but smiling, he accepted a gift basket filled with parish memorabilia and a framed commemorative photograph of St. Paul’s.

“This is such a surprise,” said Akoubian, who had flown into New York City from Fountain Valley, California with his girlfriend for a weekend visit.

“I’d never won anything before,” he said. For Akoubian, the experience was the highlight of his trip to the East Coast from Southern California, where he works in sales.

Bogosian, who lives in Battery Park City and attends both St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and Trinity, was one of numerous volunteers at St. Paul’s during its ministry to Ground Zero recovery workers following 9/11.

“For me, St. Paul’s will always be not only a place of worship, but also a place of special significance,” said Bogosian, who brought Akoubian and Stanojevic to visit the chapel.

Built in 1766, St. Paul’s is adjacent to the former World Trade Center towers. For eight months after Sept. 11, 2001, the chapel provided a sanctuary for thousands of recovery workers, giving them a place to eat, sleep, and receive emotional, spiritual and medical support. The chapel was closed to the public for the duration of the ministry.

On the first anniversary of 9/11, Trinity and St. Paul’s paid homage to the ministry by launching the exhibit titled “Out of the Dust: A Year of Ministry at Ground Zero.”

Akoubian, of Armenian descent, described St. Paul’s as a living testament to what can be accomplished when people of all faiths and backgrounds “pull together to work toward a common cause.”