wfn.org | Greek Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Welcomed in Florida

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

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

For Immediate Release
January 5, 2006

Contact:
Nikki Stephanopoulos
Cell: 917-903-1255

HUNDREDS WELCOME ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW
TO TARPON SPRINGS TO PRESIDE AT CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
OF EPIPHANY AND SAINT NICHOLAS CATHEDRAL

Tarpon Springs, FL - Tense excitement exploded into a large roar of welcome 
and fluttering of Greek and Patriarchal Flags as the plane of Ecumenical 
Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of 250 million Orthodox Christians, 
touched down at Clearwater/St. Petersburg International Airport at 5:00 pm 
on Wednesday, January 4.

Children dressed in traditional Greek costumes, Orthodox faithful young and 
old, hierarchs, clerics, city, state and local officials, and a multitude 
of media strained to be the first to see His All Holiness emerge from the 
airplane entrance and wave to the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd gathered 
to welcome their spiritual leader to Tarpon Springs.  This is the first 
time an Ecumenical Patriarch has visited Tarpon Springs for festivities 
associated with the celebration of Epiphany.

In opening ceremonies at the airport, Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the 
Greek Orthodox Church in America, thanked those who had come to welcome the 
Patriarch, including the Patriarchal delegation, Orthodox hierarchs and 
clergy from throughout the United States and Europe, and local and state 
officials.  He noted that since his enthronement, His All Holiness has 
pursued a vision of Orthodox unity, spiritual revival, Christian 
reconciliation, and a world united in peace and justice and in efforts to 
protect the environment.  Also welcoming Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew 
were William Planes, chairman of the Epiphany events, Tarpon Springs Mayor 
Beverly Billiris, and United States Congressman Michael Bilirakis.

His All Holiness responded first in Greek, then English, to the warm 
welcome of all those gathered and thanked the distinguished guests in 
attendance and the committee for their extensive preparations for the 
events marking the centennial celebrations of Epiphany in Tarpon Springs 
and of	the establishment of Saint Nicholas Cathedral.	"We came here, 
beloved brothers and sisters," said His All Holiness, " to see your honest 
faces and to fulfill the joy of our spiritual, living communion with 
you.  We rejoice when we here about all of the honorable and virtuous 
things that you, the Orthodox people of Greek descent accomplish, as people 
of order and obedience of the great United States of America."

"We arrived here after a long flight, and you honorably and symbolically 
bestow upon us three keys: the key of the progressive State of Florida, the 
key of this blessed local County, and lastly, the key of the beautiful City 
of Tarpon Springs. Through this gesture you intimate that we are welcome 
and trustworthy guests of the State, the County, and the City, a generosity 
of spirit and kindness for which we are grateful. Your honest disposition 
greatly supports our Humility for the continuation of the ecumenical 
mission of our holiest Ecumenical Patriarchate."

Before leaving the hall, His All Holiness thanked the members of the 
children's choir which presented several songs and posed for a photo with 
the entire group. The entourage then left to go immediately to Saint 
Nicholas Cathedral in Tarpon Springs to offer a Doxology (hymns of praise) 
for their safe arrival.  Once again a capacity crowd of faithful, many who 
had waited for hours, welcomed His All Holiness. In concluding his homily 
the Patriarch stated that, "We also came as brothers and sisters and 
children to bring the sympathy and spiritual support of the affectionate 
Mother Church to our afflicted brothers and sisters of New Orleans and 
other areas who were hurt by the recent catastrophic hurricanes, thus 
emphasizing our love for all and the sense of indissoluble unity in Christ 
with all."

His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will begin today's 
schedule by delivering a message of peace and reconciliation on the major 
television networks at a press briefing at 10:00 am.  Immediately following 
some 1,000 young people, ages 5-18 from throughout the area, are expected 
to attend a Patriarchal Celebration of Youth led by His All Holiness 
accompanied by Archbishop Demetrios of America and Metropolitan Alexios of 
Atlanta.  This will be followed by a Patriarchal Epiphany Centennial 
Clergy-Laity Luncheon in the Edinburgh Hall of the Innisbrook Resort.

The Patriarchal Epiphany Liturgy will begin at Saint Nicholas Cathedral at 
8:30 am on Friday, January 6, and will be followed by the Blessing of the 
Waters and the procession to Spring Bayou for the diving for the Cross.