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Planning makes Epiphany centennial memorable

Epiphany 2006 in Tarpon Springs. What a glorious and uplifting experience we enjoyed.

The weekend was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many of us Greek Orthodox Christians. Epiphany is always a big event for us every year, but this year we commemorated our 100-year anniversary of the Epiphany celebration in Tarpon Springs with the presence of our most revered patriarch, His All Holiness Bartholomew I, who traveled from Istanbul, Turkey, to be with us for this special occasion. He endeared himself to us with his warmth and accessibility to his followers. His blessings were eagerly sought by all.

The Patriarchal Epiphany Centennial Celebration committee and its many helpers worked diligently for one year with excellent planning, and the execution of that planning made this event a memorable experience for all who participated. Everything was planned down to the minutest detail, and it all fell into place without a noticeable hitch. This was a task that required a great deal of thought and work, and this committee and its helpers made it possible. Accolades to them all.

As a member of the St. Nicholas choir, I felt it was a privilege to participate in the liturgy of the Epiphany along with many members of the surrounding Tampa Bay Greek Orthodox churches that came to sing with us.

Because of the structure of the choir loft at St. Nicholas Cathedral, not enough room was available for the more than 60 choir members who came to sing during the Epiphany; thus the choir was divided, with half of the members on either side of the cathedral. In order for this to work effectively, two directors were required along with the synchronizing of the liturgical music.

We were privileged to have two extraordinary directors, Joanna Hill, St. Nicholas choir director, and Joanne Kambouris, Clearwater choir director, who worked their magic and taught, cajoled and led us until we sang with enthusiasm and perfection. Our hearts were filled with joy that we could glorify God and commemorate the baptism of Jesus Christ and the first appearance of the Holy Trinity. These two wonderful ladies are to be commended for their accomplishments, along with our wonderful organist, Diane Anastasiadis, who managed to follow both directors as they led their choir groups individually and in unison. Congratulations to them all.

The only sad note to this whole event was that our beloved Father Tryfon Theophilopoulos, after being a part of the Epiphany for 30 years, was not here to participate in the festivities. We missed him, but I can honestly say that in our hearts, we knew he was singing alongside us, with his beautiful voice giving us the encouragement to do the very best we could.

The memories of Epiphany 2006 will last us a lifetime!

Epiphany, coverage of it, top notch

I would like to highly commend the St. Petersburg Times for its coverage of the 100th Epiphany in Tarpon Springs. Not only did your reporters and photographers do a fantastic job on Epiphany Day, they also gave us wonderful coverage throughout the entire week's celebration.

I would also like to thank all those people who worked so hard to make it happen, as well as the spectators who braved the cold and wind to be present Friday. Bravo, as we Greeks would say.

Epiphany coverage draws praise

Thank you for your coverage of the Epiphany celebration and recognizing what a true blessing this 100th anniversary embodies. Having attended most of the Epiphany functions, I know your photos and articles captured the mood and true essence of the festivities.

What a dream come true to greet Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport! Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Epiphany celebration has a particularly special meaning to me. A century ago two of my four great-grandfathers were in attendance at the first Epiphany celebration in Tarpon. It was through my ancestors that I have developed a profound love of my heritage and faith.

Having been raised in Tarpon Springs, serving as an altar boy at the St. Nicholas Cathedral and also diving for the treasured cross in the days of my youth, I appreciate the magnitude of this 100th anniversary and the Ecumenical Patriarch's visit. He represents the culmination of several hundred years of suffering that the Greek Orthodox faithful endured while under Ottoman oppression.

From the 15th century through the mid 19th century, the Orthodox faithful had to practice their religion in secret. The Feggaraki Mou Lambro, a lyrical poem that every child of Greek descent comes to memorize, tells of the underground schools where the faithful were secretly taught their religion and language in the hopes of maintaining and passing along to their children all that was good and true about their cultural cornerstones. It is these cornerstones that I endeavor to pass along to my children. It is this faith that is embodied in the Ecumenical Patriarch, the 270th succession of the 2,000-year-old church.

What was so evident at this past weekend's Epiphany celebration are the very things that make this country so great. First, the diversity of the crowd that braved the colder-than-normal temperatures to participate in an event that is so rich in tradition for my faith and community. Second, our ability to freely and openly worship as we please without fear of repercussions that my ancestors faced.

I thank God for allowing me to grow up in a family and community that has nurtured in me pride in my faith and heritage. But more important, I thank God for allowing me to be born in the United States of America, where too often we take for granted our ability to engage in the free exercise of our respective faiths. Thanks again for your outstanding coverage.

It's time for Clearwater to look inward

Re: Downtown Clearwater.

Now that we finally have a beautiful Memorial Causeway bridge, the city has another bridge to cross - namely, downtown Clearwater.

Who is going to gain the most from new sidewalks, trees, etc.?

There has to be a better inducement for us to come downtown - some entertainment, etc., such as a movie theater, some cafes, some fun shops. Landscaping ain't going to do it!

Passive recreation sites are vital

Re: Park to be Largo's first east of U.S. 19 , story, Jan. 1.

I was not surprised to see that a nature trail was mentioned as an especially important amenity by residents living near the planned Largo Datsko Park. As Pinellas County continues to become more congested and high-density housing proliferates, it is vital for people to have places for passive recreation where they can escape their hectic urban lifestyle and enjoy the restorative peace and quiet of the outdoors.

I hope that the city of Largo remembers this when it comes time to add a tennis court in the new park, and does not sacrifice the park's nature trail to do so.

Jan Allyn, Largo

[Last modified January 10, 2006, 01:52:17]