wfn.org | PATRIARCH CELEBRATES 100TH EPIPHANY IN TARPON SPRINGS

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GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
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Email: communications@goarch.org

January 6, 2006

PATRIARCH CELEBRATES 100TH EPIPHANY IN TARPON SPRINGS

Tarpon Springs, Fla. -- Two years and thousands of hours of work by
parishioners of St. Nicholas Cathedral came to fruition January 6 with the
celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Epiphany celebration in the
community coinciding with the first visit of an Ecumenical Patriarch.

On his third day in Tarpon Springs, Patriarch Bartholomew officiated at
events associated with the feast day, including the archierarchical Divine
Liturgy, the Water Blessing Service that immediately followed, and the
traditional diving for the cross in nearby Spring Bayou.

From there, the Patriarch, Archbishop Demetrios and other hierarchs and
priests proceeded to the heart of what is known as â??Greek Townâ?? the
area around Dodecanese Avenue that includes the sponge docks, where he
viewed several groups of accomplished Greek dancers. The dayâ??s events
ended in the evening with the Centennial Epiphany Reception held in Tampa.

â??Iâ??m touched by the visit of His All Holiness, said William Planes,
chairman of the Centennial Committee that planned the  events surrounding
Patriarch Bartholomewâ??s five-day visit. â??Heâ??s a wonderful person.â??
Mr. Planes noted that, as a result of the Patriarchâ??s visit, a family
member who had not received Holy Communion in 50 years, did so at the
Epiphany liturgy. â??He brought my family together,â?? he said.

At the Divine Liturgy, which began at 9 a.m. and was broadcast live,
Patriarch Bartholomew was assisted by Archbishop Demetrios, who joined him
at events throughout the day, and four other bishops, five priests and four
deacons. About 100 priests were present in the altar for the service.

Following the Liturgy and the Blessing of the Waters, which included
participation by all Metropolitans present, the clergy and divers lined up
on Pinellas Avenue in front of the church for the 20-minute procession to
Spring Bayou on a morning when the temperature had dropped to the
mid-â??50s, with a steady north wind. The hierarchs, priests and divers
were joined by choir members and other church officials.

Upon arriving, the Patriarch blessed the 56 teen-age boys who kneeled on
the steps leading down to the water, then the boys raced to jump into the
water.	The Patriarch led a brief service that included hymns and the
reading from the Gospel from the Blessing of the Waters.  At the proper
moment, a girl from the community released a dove, signifying the
description of the Holy Spirit in the Bible, who descended â??like a dove.â??

Moments later, the Patriarch tossed in the cross and the waters were
quickly churning with the rapid movement of the boys as they headed for the
cross. A few seconds later, 16-year-old Zacharias Vasilaros surfaced
holding the cross aloft. It was his first try as a cross diver. He was
quickly hoisted on the shoulders of several other boys, who bore him all
the way back to the cathedral where he received a special blessing from
Patriarch Bartholomew.

Clergy and lay people then proceeded to Dodecanese Avenue, a street along
the water lined with Greek specialty shops and restaurants. A large tent
was set up on a parking lot where the Patriarch and Metropolitans viewed
several groups of Greek dancers, some traveling from as far as Astoria,
N.Y., and Cranston, R.I.

In the evening, a motorcade transported the Patriarch, Archbishop, and
other hierarchs to a banquet facility. Master of ceremonies was Fox-News
anchor Ernie Anastos of New York. In his introduction of the Patriarch,
Archbishop Demetrios discussed the significance of the Ecumenical Patriarch
and St. Sophia Church, which dates back to the Emperor Justinian and the
Byzantine Empire at its height.

Patriarch Bartholomew, discussing the significance of Epiphany, said the
feast day was not only a celebration of Christâ??s baptism, but is â??also
a revelation of the Holy Trinity and our own baptism.â?? He also noted that
because many people in the United States have taken an interest in
Orthodoxy, â??It is our brotherly duty to witness to them the beauty and
content of the faith.â?? Praising Archbishop Demetrios for his ministry,
the Patriarch said his mind is â??at easeâ?? knowing the Archbishop is
leading the Church in America. Several presentations to the Patriarch
concluded the banquet, including the presentation of the key to the city by
Mayor Beverly Billiris.