CINDY SKOP/Ledger photos Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I adds holy water to Spring Bayou on Friday in Tarpon Springs during the Epiphany celebration.
Posted on 01/07/2006 6:22:06 AM PST by DocRock
TARPON SPRINGS -- Amid the sounds of ancient liturgical chants, the spiritual leader of all Eastern Orthodox Christians presided over the largest Epiphany ceremony in North America on Friday.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I continued his historic visit to the Greek Orthodox community in central Florida, commemorating the centennial of the Epiphany ceremony in Tarpon Springs.
More than 50,000 people were present for Friday's services, according to a report from Tarpon Springs police. It was the first time an Ecumenical patriarch visited Central Florida.
"It is a great honor. It is something exciting," said Roula Roussos, a member of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church in Winter Haven.
For the Orthodox, Epiphany marks the baptism of Jesus Christ, and a morning celebration of the Divine Liturgy was capped by the traditional retrieval of a cross thrown by the patriarch into the chilly waters of Spring Bayou.
A roar went up from the crowd as 16-year-old Jack Vasilaros of Clearwater Beach came up with the white cross. Vasilaros was one of 56 boys from the Tampa Bay area who were chosen to dive for the cross. He presented it to Bartholomew and received a blessing from the 65-yearold patriarch. According to tradition, the boy who retrieves the cross will have good fortune.
Members of St. Sophia were among those who traveled to Tarpon Springs on Friday. A bus carrying about a dozen members of the church arrived at St. Nicholas Cathedral about 8 a.m. as a song service preceding the Divine Liturgy was already underway.
The Rev. Dean Photos, the presbyter, or priest, of St. Sophia, was one of several bishops and eight local priests assisting Bartholomew. Seating inside St. Nicholas was limited, however, and the members of St. Sophia joined about 200 others to watch the services on wide-screen TVs in a large tent in a courtyard next to the church. Photos made a brief appearance in the tent to serve communion wine to the faithful, giving each a sip of the wine from a long silver spoon.
The temperature remained in the 50s, and a brisk wind chilled the crowds but failed to cool their excitement, which was evident throughout the three-hour service of Divine Liturgy and the colorful procession to Spring Bayou that followed.
Bartholomew, dressed in richly brocaded red and gold vestments and wearing a golden mitra, or turban-like tiara, led melismatic chanting in a rich baritone voice. The services were conducted mostly in Greek with occasional recitations in English.
Anetta Rowe of Winter Haven and her 11-year-old daughter, Alexandra, were among the parishioners from St. Sophia at the services. She was also among those who greeted Bartholomew at the Clearwater airport upon his arrival Thursday. She said she could sense he is a holy man.
"He is very loving and sweet and charismatic. You could feel the tenderness he sheds," she said, noting that he stopped to kiss a small icon held by one of the children from St. Sophia.
A banquet was held in Bartholomew's honor Friday night, and he is scheduled to attend a benefit concert tonight given by tenor Mario Frangoulis at the Sun Dome in Tampa. He will depart on Sunday afternoon.
The Ecumenical patriarch is considered first in importance among the leaders of the various Eastern Orthodox churches, which include as many as 250 million members worldwide. He was elected Ecumenical patriarch in 1991 and is based in Istanbul, Turkey, which the Orthodox still refer to by its ancient name of Constantinople.
Bartholomew announced on Thursday that he will meet with Pope Benedict XVI this year in an attempt to restart dialogue between the two faiths, which split apart in 1054.
Greek-American groups traveled from as far away as Michigan, New Jersey and New York for the ceremonies and for the afternoon festivities, which took place along the sponge docks in Tarpon Springs. Dancing troupes in traditional Greek costumes gave performances attended by the patriarch, and thousands flocked to the food tents selling Greek foods and pastries.
Roussos, who with her husband owns Mike's Drive-in Restaurant in Bartow, made vasilopita for the occasion, a dense, sweet cake made with almonds, which is a traditional favorite on Epiphany, and she brought some to share with the members of St. Sophia.
"You put a coin in it, and whoever finds it is lucky," she said.
At the glendi, or celebration, Friday afternoon, Rowe said the morning's worship services would have a lasting effect.
"I feel uplifted, revived. It carries you through the year," she said.
George Zubulake, a retired educator who recently moved to Winter Haven from Michigan, said he was moved by the whole experience.
"My spiritual appreciation for my religion has come full circle. Basically, it comes to life. That's why I'm here," he said. "It makes it more a part of me."
Cary McMullen can be reached via e-mail at cary.mcmullen@ theledger.com or by calling 863-802-7509.
CINDY SKOP/Ledger photos Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I adds holy water to Spring Bayou on Friday in Tarpon Springs during the Epiphany celebration.
oops. I posted the same story just after you did. Oh well...it's worth repeating
EP/Epiphany ping!
My kids and others at the Airport waiting for the arrival of the Patriarch.
Plane arriving.
His All Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, is the one with the thin galsses. The other is the archbishop of America.
Bible Study. The Bishop (Metropolitan) of the South Eastern US States, Alexios, and the Patriarch
Wonderful!!!! More..... more!
Thank you and thanks for the link.
Great photos, thanks for pinging me on these!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.