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Letter to the editor

Familiar face to release dove

Today's Epiphany dove bearer is a visible, busy teen.

By ELENA LESLEY, Times Staff Writer
Published January 6, 2008

TARPON SPRINGS - It would be hard to set foot in St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral without noticing Irene Koulianos.

"You see Irene everywhere," said Sofia Zaronias, media chair for this year's Epiphany. "Wherever someone needs help, Irene's there."

When she's not singing in the church choir - the 17-year-old is a 10-year veteran - she might be rehearsing steps with the Levendia dancers or chatting with friends from youth group.

Today, Koulianos will serve as dove bearer in her congregation's celebration of Epiphany. It is an honor bestowed on one young woman from the church each year.

After Koulianos releases the dove - a symbol of the Holy Spirit - over Spring Bayou, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios will drop a wooden cross into the water. Dozens of young men will plunge in after it, each hoping to retrieve the religious artifact and thus receive a special blessing.

"It's a great privilege," said Tula Koulianos, Irene Koulianos' mother. "We're very lucky to have a daughter like Irene."

The dove bearers tend to be "real standouts," girls who exemplify Christian virtues such as service and purity, Zaronias said.

A junior at Tarpon Springs High School, Koulianos was selected by her choir director last Easter to sing salutations to the Virgin Mary, a prominent and challenging portion of the holiday services.

"It took a lot of practice," said Koulianos, adding that her director made her a special CD to practice with at home.

Outside of church, Koulianos volunteers as a tutor for elementary school children and works at Athens Cafe. She hopes to attend St. Petersburg College for two years after high school, then possibly transfer to the University of South Florida and study either drama or physical therapy.

For now, she's mostly concerned with her dove-bearer duties. She doesn't want to let go too soon, or hold the bird too tightly.

"I'm a little nervous," Koulianos said. "I've been waiting a long time for this."

Elena Lesley can be reached at elesley@sptimes.com or 727 445-4167.

[Last modified January 5, 2008, 20:09:12]