Published by GreekNewsOnline.com, March 14, 2005

Patriarch Bartholomew Coming to Tarpon Springs for Epiphany

Tarpon Springs - Following an invitation by Archbishop Demetrios, His All Holiness Bartholomew, is coming to Tarpon Springs Florida, for the 2006 Epiphany Celebration and he will toss the cross into Spring Bayou. Tarpon Springs, the tiny village of Greek sponge divers, in the Golf of Mexico, has been named the Epiphany City and next years celebrations are expected to draw more than 80,000 people, from across the United States.

The Epiphany celebration will also mark the centennial of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

According to St Petersburg Times, Church officials week confirmed that Patriarch Bartholomew has accepted an invitation to visit Tarpon Springs, and this will be the first time a patriarch has come to Florida.

"His All Holiness has basically put it on the program," said Father Alex Karloutsos assistant to the Archbishop of America

Earlier this year, Archbishop Demetrios, head of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, hand-delivered an invitation to the patriarch.

"It's nothing that you just pick up the phone one day and call," said Tarpon Springs resident and businessman Bill Planes, head of the 10-member Tampa Bay area committee planning the visit. "It's been years in the making."

Along with Bartholomew's visit, organizers anticipate a slate of high-ranking church leaders and other dignitaries, heightened security and record crowds.

Bartholomew is scheduled to land Jan. 4 via private jet at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport, said Planes, a local church lay leader who is financing the trip along with Alex G. Spanos, a California businessman who owns the San Diego Chargers and is married to a woman from Tarpon Springs.

Between his arrival and scheduled Jan. 8 departure, Bartholomew will be feted with luncheons, dinners, a banquet, a concert by Greek tenor Mario Frangoulis and other festivities. Most events will center out of the Westin Innisbrook Resort, where the patriarch will stay.

On Jan. 6, the celebration of Christ's baptism in the Jordan River, the patriarch will be at the center of the full day of liturgy and processionals that builds to the moment when dozens of Greek Orthodox boys ages 16 to 18 dive into Spring Bayou to retrieve the cross. After the cross dive and the traditional Glendi party, there will be a patriarchal banquet that night at Innisbrook with about 1,200 in attendance, Planes said.

On Sunday, the patriarch will perform the divine liturgy service at St. Nicholas Cathedral, celebrating the church's 100th anniversary. After a community luncheon at the community center, the patriarch will return to Istanbul.

St Petersburg Times also reports that ten months before he will come to Tarpon Springs, the church and various other agencies are preparing for his arrival.

"Any time you have a dignitary, a head of any state, or in this case, head of a church, it is going to call for more stringent security," said Tarpon Springs police Sgt. Jeff Young. He said that as the visit draws closer, police will coordinate with other agencies to provide security.

Before the event, the city will have completed repairs to the seawall at Spring Bayou, site of the cross toss, said Mayor Beverley Billiris. Concerns over a major road project scheduled for downtown are allayed as the Florida Department of Transportation has told the church construction won't begin until after the patriarch leaves, she said.

"It's a great honor to have him visit my city," said Billiris, who was married at St. Nicholas Cathedral. "It's going to be a very, very big event."

Members of our Church in Tarpon welcomed the news enthusiastically, characterized the visit as historic.

"This is a very significant event physically, culturally and spiritually," said the Rev. Sebastian Skordallos, Archimandrite, dean of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral. "The church members are overwhelmed, excited and anxious about his arrival. We are already busy preparing. It will be an intense week of events, and we will continue to celebrate all year."

"He advocates for the environment and we are going to try to use this for our theme and tie it into the blessing of the waters," he said.

Ted Georgious, 67, from California, was at the cathedral to attend his sister's funeral.

"The patriarch is coming here?" he said. "That will be very nice. This city is famous for the Epiphany, and now it will be even more famous."

At the more secular Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks, word of the future visit brought a mixed reaction. Some were very enthusiastic, while others seemed indifferent or turned away questions with a brusque "no comment."

Jane Lawson, a 79-year-old artist, was painting watercolors of boats by the docks on a sunny Friday morning with a friend. The patriarch's appearance is expected to draw a crowd three or even four times as big as the 20,000 people who typically show up.

"It's gotten so crowded I don't go anymore," she said. "And it will probably be even more so next year. But Epiphany certainly has brought a lot of fame to our little city. It brings this town to life."

Eveline Kanganis opened Evie's Place gift shop on the Sponge Docks two weeks ago. She wasn't aware of the news but said, "I can't imagine that it wouldn't be good for business."

Parking lot attendant Louis Mantzanas is a church member who dove for the cross three times at age 13, 14, and 15. Now 67, he said this event would be another milestone in his life.

"It's wonderful," he said. "It will make a positive impact on this area. We'll have a lot of people probably from places like New York and Atlanta."

Andres Salivaras, owner of Mykonos restaurant, said the visit might bring national attention to the Epiphany City.

"This will put Tarpon Springs on top of the map," he said. "He (the patriarch) is like the pope; this is the leader of all the Orthodox religions. We are very proud for him to come and bless the waters and bless all of us."

Mike Tsombanidis, owner of Gift World, said he couldn't wait to see the patriarch.

"We go every year," he said. "We are very religious people who believe in Jesus and God."



Volume 7 Number 12 - Tuesday, March 22nd, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY