St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church (Tarpon Springs, Florida)

St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Tarpon Springs
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church interior
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Tarpon Springs
Plaque at the church
Stained glass window at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, also known as St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, is a historic church building and center for Greek-American life in Tarpon Springs, Florida. The church hosts an annual epiphany celebration on January 6 in which Greek Orthodox boys aged 16 to 18 dive into Spring Bayou to retrieve a cross.[1] A statue of an epiphany diver is located in front of the church.[2] The church has been featured on postcards.[3][4] The church is located at 36 North Pinellas Avenue.[1]

The first St. Nicholas Church in Tarpon was built in 1907. The existent building was completed in 1943. The domed church is an example of Neo-Byzantine architecture and was modelled after Saint Sophia Cathedral (Hagia Sophia) in Constantinople (now Istanbul).

The church includes marble from Greece. A weeping icon of Saint Nicholas is inside near the entrance. It has been seen to shed actual tears by some observers.[5] Inside there are 23 stained glass windows and the three large chandeliers from Czechoslovakia. The sixty ton altar of Greek marble was a gift from Greece and was originally part of the Greek exhibit at the first New York World's Fair.[6] It was obtained with help from George Frantzis.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 Tarpon Springs gets ready for Epiphany Ayana Stewart, January 5, 2016, Tampa Bay Times
  2. Epiphany, Tarpon Springs Michael Bilirakis, Representative (9th District)
  3. Spiritual Florida; A Guide to retreat centers page 56
  4. History of Epiphany Celebration

External links

Coordinates: 28°08′50″N 82°45′24″W / 28.1472°N 82.7567°W / 28.1472; -82.7567

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