Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

From Sponge Docks to high schools, faithful prepare for holy day

Kids meet the patriarch. Teens are schooled on cross-diving etiquette.

By ROBIN STEIN,TAMARA EL-KHOURY and NICOLE JOHNSON
Published January 6, 2006

	Full coverage

TARPON SPRINGS - It's not every day that the religious leader of 250-million Orthodox Christians invites you to his home.

But Thursday, His All Holiness Bartholomew asked 700 children to visit the church's ancient headquarters in Istanbul.

"You will be my guests," said the patriarch, who will participate in today's 100th Epiphany celebration in Tarpon Springs. "Then you will see the sacred origins of our church."

In case the significance of the offer was lost on the parent-free crowd gathered at the Westin Innisbrook Resort, the leader of the church's American diocese explained.

"This is an exceedingly honorable invitation," His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios said. "A big, big gift!"

The patriarch's invitation was a hit with Athena and Droussoulla Mavromatis, 11-year-old twins from Tarpon Springs. The girls, who always wear matching outfits, both carried big purple Bibles.

"I couldn't even go to sleep last night," said Droussoulla. She was thinking up questions to ask in case she had a chance to talk to the patriarch. "I would ask him where he's been around the world."

"I would ask him what it's like to be you," said Athena, who said she was impressed that he was so relaxed. "He's not uncomfortable because he's a famous person. He's nice to everybody."

But the invitation did come with one condition: "When you come to Constantinople, we shall speak only in Greek."

The archbishop pointed out that this request was very reasonable, considering the patriarch speaks seven languages fluently.

"He didn't ask for six more, just one more," he said. "And it's better to have two programs in your brain's computer."

When most people think of George Grawe's culture, he said, what comes to mind is the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

"Or they think we worship Zeus or something," said Grawe, 17, a senior at Hillsborough High School.

But today, Grawe and 55 other Epiphany cross divers will participate in a weekend of festivities, showcasing the Greek Orthodox faith to the rest of the world.

This year, the coming of His All Holiness Bartholomew has prompted worldwide media coverage, their instructors told them Thursday.

"People want to see you guys, be around you guys, especially because of this event," said Aleck Alissandratos, a cross diver coordinator who was a cross retriever in 1977.

Alissandratos told them:

Wear conservative shorts. "We're not trying to impress our girlfriends this year. We're trying to impress our community."

Answer reporters' questions respectfully. "Like you're speaking to your grandmother."

No more than six boys to a boat. "We don't want any sunk boats out there."

Jump in the water only after the cross leaves the patriarch's hand. "The dove bearer will release a dove - it signifies peace. No need to jump in for that."

They laugh, but it's happened before, Alissandratos warned them. He also reminded the boys several times to keep their Epiphany T-shirts tucked in.

It's a blessing just to be a diver, said Michael Kavouklis, 16, of Tampa.

"There's a small percentage of kids who get to do it," said Kavouklis, a Jesuit High School sophomore who is diving for the first time.

Kavouklis said his parents told him not to worry if he doesn't retrieve the cross.

"God chooses who gets it," said Minas Trihas, 18, a senior at Palm Harbor High School. Trihas will dive today for the last time.

"It's not like you can go home and practice for it," he said. "You can be an Olympic swimmer and it doesn't matter."

Dressed in long black robes and a chimney-box style hat, the Very Rev. Father Sebastian Skordallos walked the Sponge Docks on Thursday, flicking basil leaves anointed with holy water onto boats, dogs, people and storefronts.

Dozens lined up to kiss the silver cross and receive a blessing as Father Skordallos, dean of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, made his way down the docks in the city's annual blessing of the fleet. The event precedes the annual Epiphany celebration.

But this year's ceremony, which symbolizes the city's religious heritage and its hopes for the future, held even more weight for people like Jeff Love.

"There's been nothing," said Love, who has sponged for 16 years. "No bottom, no nothing, no life, and that includes sponges."

Tarpon Springs' spongers had averaged a harvest of 2-million sponges a year, said sponge merchant George Billiris. But after the 2004 hurricanes and one of the worst recorded summers of Red Tide in history, that supply dwindled by more than half last year.

"This is the worst year I have seen," said Taso Karistinos, a sponger for 35 years. "This is a truly needed blessing."

The basil and cross used in the blessing come from the story of Helena, the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great. Helena found the cross on which Jesus was crucified under a basil bush.

"This is our religion," said Dena Martinez, as she and her 18-month-old daughter, Stephanie, were sprinkled with the basil. "This means good physical and spiritual health."

[Last modified January 6, 2006, 01:18:36]