wfn.org | GOAA - Saint Photios National Shrine Annual Pilgrimage

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GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10021
Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax: (212) 774-0215
Web: http://www.goarch.org
Email: communications@goarch.org

November 13, 2003

Saint Photios National Shrine Annual Pilgrimage

St. Augustine, FL -- February 6 is the Feast day of Saint Photios the
Great, patron saint of the National Shrine of the Greek Orthodox
Archdiocese of America, located in St. Augustine, Florida.  The St. Photios
Shrine Foundation Board of Trustees will also celebrate the feast of the
Shrine with its annual Trustees Meeting at the Annual Saint Photios
National Shrine Pilgrimage.

The Executive Director, V. Rev. Nicholas Graff, announced that the patron
of the National Shrine, Saint Photios the Great, would be commemorated at
the 22nd Annual Saint Photios National Shrine Pilgrimage, February 6
through 8, 2004 in St. Augustine, FL.  The Pilgrimage will begin with
Divine Liturgy on February 6 for the feast of its patron in the Saint
Photios Chapel at the National Shrine.

The St. Photios Foundation Board of Trustees will meet for their Annual
Meeting during the Pilgrimage on Saturday, February 7, 2004.  Matins will
take place in the morning and the evening will include Great Vespers with
an Artoclasia service in the magnificent Saint Photios Chapel.

The Saint Photios National Shrine Day is Sunday, February 8, 2004.  Orthros
Service followed by Archierarchical Liturgy with a Memorial Service for
Shrine Founders, Benefactors and Trustees will be celebrated at the Saint
Photios Chapel.  The National Shrine Day Pilgrimage Luncheon is February 8
at the Casa Monica Hotel in St. Augustine, FL.

The Board of Trustees continue to enhance the efforts of the National
Shrine to promote the Orthodox Faith and Hellenic heritage.  Fr. Graff also
announced, in commemoration of the return of the Olympic Games to Athens,
Greece in 2004, Olympic Gold-medal winner, Bruce Jenner will be this year's
Keynote Speaker, speaking on "The Olympic Spirit."

The Saint Photios National Shrine Annual Pilgrimage is the celebration of
the feast of Saint Photios the Great Patriarch of Constantinople.  Saint
Photios the Great was Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople during the
middle of the ninth century.  The Orthodox Church honors Saint Photios as a
theologian, a supporter of missionary activity, and a defender of the
Faith.	Not long after his death in 897, Photios was proclaimed a Saint by
the Orthodox Church and February 6 was designated as the Feast day to honor
this defender of the Christian Faith and pillar of the Church.

Like its patron saint -- Saint Photios -- the Shrine is called to be a
steadfast beacon to the faithful, maintaining and perpetuating our Orthodox
Faith and Hellenic Heritage; to project Orthodox Christianity through its
programs and activities to all who pass through its historic doors; and to
initiate the mission endeavor of love, of freedom, a better life and to
communicate the Gospel of Christ.  The National Shrine 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.

The Shrine consists of exhibits depicting the story of the first Greek
colony that came to America in 1768.  This unique exhibit contains various
artifacts, photographs and historical documents.  Also, a special
audio/visual tape, "Our Plymouth Rock," tells the story of Greek immigrants
finding themselves
in a hostile and unknown land, and of their struggle to become part of the
fabric of America.

Greek Orthodox faithful are encouraged to make a pilgrimage to the National
Shrine, to experience the religious, cultural, and historical significance
of St. Augustine.  In the Chapel, candles can be lit for loved ones and
ancestors who first came to this land, or the name of loved ones can be
inscribed on The Wall of Tribute, located outside the Saint Photios Chapel.
All are welcomed to attend the Annual Saint Photios National Shrine
Pilgrimage.

Shrine Trustee and Archon Dr. Manuel Tissura of Tucker, GA, will chair the
22nd Annual St. Photios National Shrine Pilgrimage.  Information on the
Annual Pilgrimage and the Saint Photios National Shrine Pilgrimage Luncheon
is available from the St. Photios National Shrine at P.O. Box 1960 -- St.
Augustine, FL 32085, Tel: (904) 829-8205, or E-mail: info@StPhotios.com.

The National Shrine is located on 41 St. George Street in historic downtown
St. Augustine, Florida, the nation's oldest city.

Contact: Andrew J. Lekos
Tel 904/829-8205
Fax 904/829-8707
E-mail AJLekos@stphotios.com

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