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Patriarch's liturgy draws overflow crowd

The 41/2-hour ceremony highlights the final day of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral's centennial Epiphany celebration.

By TERRI BRYCE REEVES
Published January 9, 2006

	[Times photo: Douglas R. Clifford]
	His All Holiness Bartholomew presides over the Orthros and Patriarchal Centennial Liturgy on Sunday at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Tarpon Springs. Go to special report | The latest photos Multimedia gallery: 1906-2006

TARPON SPRINGS - It's a message Nikki Christa has delivered over and over, sometimes in Greek, sometimes in English.

"The church is full. The Secret Service won't allow people to stand in the aisles. There are no more seats. You may light a candle and go next door," she told droves of worshipers Sunday morning as they tried to enter St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

So the faithful lit candles, kissed the icon of St. Nicholas in the lobby, and headed next door to the community hall or to the tent in the church courtyard, where big-screen televisions broadcast, on closed circuit, the Orthros and Patriarchal Centennial Liturgy.

It was a 41/2-hour ceremony with incense, prayers and chanting, officiated by His All Holiness Bartholomew, the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church.

It also signified the close of Tarpon Springs' historic centennial Epiphany celebration.

Many began arriving for the 8 a.m. liturgy as early as 6:15 a.m. to secure a good seat in the church, which holds about 300. Among them were older women with black scarves around their heads, silver-haired men in dark suits, and little girls in white tights and black patent leather shoes.

Parishioner Catherine Sellas arrived at 8 a.m. and sat in a corner pew near the front.

"I had a straight shot of the patriarch on his throne," she beamed. "It's my second time seeing him and my heart stops every time."

Maria Fotini Gerakios, 38, was born on Jan. 6, Epiphany Day. She feels blessed to have had that date as her birthday.

But on this day, her luck ran low.

"I got here at 9:15 and was too late to get in," she said.

Outside the community hall, which was packed with about 350 people, Reenee Dragoutsis, 31, pushed her 5-month-old daughter in a stroller. She said her mother had been a dove bearer in the Epiphany cross diving ceremony in the 1960s.

"It's been a crazy week with barricades all over town," she said. "It's kind of different to see half of us sitting next door in the hall. Overall, it was nice to see so many people come and take part in the celebration."

Nikitas Manias, parish council president, said Sunday was the culmination of an exciting year for the parish.

"We've worked three nights a week for the last year and the executive committee of seven basically gave up our jobs and worked full time for this past month," he said. "But this is a once-in-a-lifetime blessing. It's the first time (the patriarch) has ever done a celebration in the United States."

Milling among the faithful were an untold number of law enforcement officials, including FBI and Secret Service agents, Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies and Tarpon Springs police officers.

Hugh Townsend of New Port Richey said the high security measures were essential.

"Given the war we are currently engaged in, (the patriarch) would be a prime target," he said. "He is a Christian leader in a Muslim country (Turkey) and is being treated as a visiting head of state."

Michael Zaronias, 38, held his 6-week-old baby close in the cool morning as he watched the televised service from the tent. He expressed his regret that the Rev. Tryfon Theophilopoulos, the cathedral's dean of three decades, wasn't there for the historic occasion. Father Tryfon died in October.

"God wanted him next to him," he said. "He's here in spirit."

Nearby, altar boys in blue and gold robes took a break from their duties and gathered outside in the courtyard to play. They recounted how the patriarch had touched their young lives.

Lowell Peterson, 12, said the patriarch tapped him with his hand.

"I felt better right away," he said.

Near the end of the service, His All Holiness Bartholomew spoke, thanking those who had been part of the Epiphany celebration and bestowing gifts on many. Afterward, he handed out pieces of bread, which he had blessed.

As parishioners pressed close together to receive the patriarch's blessing, one elderly woman became upset when she was asked to wait.

Anastasis Anastasiades became emotional after receiving his bread. "I feel like a different man," he said, his voice trembling. "I am very proud to have him here in our town."

[Last modified January 9, 2006, 12:34:59]