wfn.org | GOAA - CELEBRATING THE OLYMPIC SPIRIT

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GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
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Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax: (212) 774-0215
Web: http://www.goarch.org
Email: communications@goarch.org

For Immediate Release
February 11, 2004

Contact:  Andrew J. Lekos
Tel (904) 829-8205
Fax (904) 829-8707
E-Mail AJLekos@stphotios.com

CELEBRATING THE OLYMPIC SPIRIT

St. Augustine, FL - The 22nd Annual St. Photios National Shrine Pilgrimage,
celebrated by faithful throughout the Archdiocese in St. Augustine, FL from
February 6-8, vividly recalled	the journey, struggles, and the ultimately
realized dream of freedom of the first Greek pioneers who arrived in
America in 1768.  The celebration began on  February 6, the Feastday of
Saint Photios the Great,  with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy by
St. Photios Foundation President Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta, past
Foundation president and Trustee Emeritus, Bishop John of Amorion, and Rev.
Nikitas Theodosion, Shrine chaplain and pastor of Holy Trinity Church in
St. Augustine, FL.

The St. Photios Foundation Board of  Trustees met for its annual meeting on
Saturday, February 7th. His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit,
representing the Holy Eparchial Synod , said, "On behalf of His Eminence
Archbishop Demetrios of America and the entire Archdiocese, we thank you
for your efforts and extend gratitude for your time and talents."  Shrine
Executive Director,  V. Rev. Nicholas Graff, shared recent accomplishments,
including the hosting of the Leadership 100 Memorial Service at St. Photios
Shrine the past year. Father Graff asked the Trustees to focus their
efforts on "completing the St. Photios National Shrine Archbishop Iakovos
Enhancement Project, so that we then may continue our efforts to meet the
goal of the Endowment Fund, as a fitting tribute to our founding hierarch,
Archbishop Iakovos."  National Philoptochos Board President, Mrs. Georgia
Skeadas commented, "All Philoptochos chapters are pleased to be benefactors
of this sacred institution of our Archdiocese.	I am truly impressed with
the importance and significance the Shrine represents."  Later that
evening, His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios, presided at Great Vespers and
the Artoclasia, offered by the Shrine Godparents, Archon Dr. George and
Georgia Croffead of Charleston, SC.

His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Sunday,
February 8, National St. Photios Shrine Day in St. Photios Chapel. The
Xynidis family, offered the Koliva for the Memorial Service commemorating
the Founders, Benefactors, Trustees, and Charter Members of the National
Shrine.  Following the Liturgy, 170 guests gathered at the Casa Monica
Hotel ballroom for the Annual St. Photios Shrine Pilgrimage Luncheon.	The
Honorable Mayor George Gardner of St. Augustine welcomed all the guests "to
the nation's oldest city,"  and presented keynote speaker, Bruce Jenner,
with an official lapel pin of the City of St. Augustine.

Bruce Jenner, Olympic Gold Medal Winner, was introduced by Toastmaster
Nicholas Furris , who noted that Mr. Jenner was selected to speak on the
occasion of the Olympic Games to be held in Athens this summer. "The
Olympic Spirit", said Mr. Jenner, "was for him a positive experience that
helped build his soul from within to become a champion."  On his journey
towards his decathlon Olympic gold medal in 1976, he learned that each
person has the power within to become a champion.

Highlights of the luncheon included the presentation of  The St. Photios
Award to Mrs. Joyce Brown, who retired after sixteen years of service to
the St. Photios Shrine. Trustee Emeritus, Archon Charles Masterpolis of
Savannah, GA,  presented Father Graff with a gift of $50,000 for the
Archbishop Iakovos Enhancement Project and  a gift of $10,000 to Holy
Trinity Church in St. Augustine on the occasion of the recent
groundbreaking for their new church.

Corporate sponsors of the 22nd Annual St. Photios Shrine Pilgrimage were
Spectrum Films, Video, Interactive of Jacksonville, FL, and Capitol
Partners, LLC of Jacksonville, FL.  The Chairperson of the Pilgrimage was
Archon Dr. Manuel Tissura, of Atlanta,GA, and Mrs. Elaine Tissura was the
Luncheon chairperson. The St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine is a
self-supported institution of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
thanks to the generosity of friends and benefactors.  It is dedicated to
the first colony of Greek people who came to America in 1768, and is a
living memorial to those first Greek settlers, and to all the Greek
Orthodox pioneers whose love of freedom and desire for a better life for
themselves and their children brought them to this New World.

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