The retriever then kneels with the cross before the Archbishop for a blessing.įollowing the ceremony, an Epiphany Glendi (festival) with food, drink, live music and dancing will take place at the Spanos-Pappas Community Center - Theofilos Hall, 348 N Pinellas Avenue. The Archbishop will cast a white cross into the water and some seventy-eight young men will dive for the cross, each seeking the honor of retrieving it. There, an invocation is recited, a young lady releases a white dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit to fly over the Bayou, an additional 105 doves will then be released celebrating the 105 years the holy spirit has bestowed upon Tarpon Springs. Pinellas Ave.įollowing the Divine Liturgy and Great Blessing of the waters, Archbishop Demetrios, hierarchs, clergy, dignitaries and thousands of people will form an impressive procession to Spring Bayou, with school children in traditional costumes, choir members, Greek Folk dance groups from throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral at 10 a.m. with Orthros (Matins) followed by the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at St. On January 6th, Epiphany observances begin at 8 a.m. Nicholas, visited the Sponge Docks on the Anclote River, and blessed the fisherman and recreational boaters, their vessels, and the water in which they travel, and wished them safe and prosperous journeys. Vasileios Tsourlis, the assistant priest of St. His Eminence attended a clergy luncheon held at the Holy Trinity parish in Clearwater.Įarlier in the day Fr. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Tarpon Springs. Upon his arrival, Archbishop Demetrios was welcomed by Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta, clergy and laity of the area and students from the St. 6 in Tarpon Springs, which is known worldwide as Epiphany City. – Archbishop Demetrios of America arrived today in the Tampa Bay area for the 105th Annual Epiphany celebration that will take place tomorrow Jan. Nicholas is the Patron Saint of the Gulf coast sponge fishing community in Tarpon Springs, as well as the Patron Saint of the Cathedral in Tarpon Springs. December 8, 1973, was the last time the Icon was observed weeping. The icon continued to weep tears during the Christmas season for three more years. They will not come to any conclusion until they have gathered all the facts and after the Icon has stopped weeping. Our Church authorities are very cautious to make an official statement. He instructed Father Kalariotes to have qualified persons examine it and state their findings so that "belief may be strengthened or disbelief established." Father Elias had been asked, "What is the message? He replied, "Only time will reveal the message. When Archbishop Iakovos arrived, he examined the Icon. Archdiocesan officials said it was a "phenomenon beyond human comprehension." Prayer services continued until the Archbishop came for Epiphany Day. After the carpenter said the case was airtight, they exposed the Icon to strong sunlight and the tears kept on weeping.įather Elias notified the Greek Archdiocese in New York City on December 17th. Elias called in a carpenter to examine the case. Father Elias could not explain the "tears. Nicholas and after that the "tears" began to increase in a steady flow. The group knelt in prayer before the Icon of St. GOYA, a youth fellowship, John Xipolitas watched with amazement as the mysterious "crystal droplets" developed on the Icon and he called Fr. Elias Kalariotes, saw the tears on December 14. From then on "tears" continued to develop from time to time. Over the next several days, parishioners also saw the 'crystal-like' droplets on the Icon. She discovered drops of moisture around the eyes of the painting, though it is tightly enclosed in a glass case. No one has been able to explain its weeping.Ī cleaning woman was the first to notice the tears, December 5, 1970. Thousands of people have come on pilgrimage to see this weeping icon. The church has been partially restored and is again in use. The church was closed in the 1930s and the bell tower and a neighboring church were demolished. The small domes are the most unusual feature. Built at the end of the 1600s, it is also known as Epiphany Church. The Icon is known as "The Weeping Icon of Saint Nicholas." The church is just behind the city's Trading Rows. It is a painting framed under glass and kept in an elaborately carved, glass-covered enclosure just inside the cathedral’s main entrance. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Tarpon Springs, Florida, is an Icon of Saint Nicholas. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pin on Pinterest email Print
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