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Letter to the editor

1945: Joy over liberation is felt at Epiphany event

By Times Staff Writer
Published January 6, 2008

Jan. 6, 1945

TARPON SPRINGS - With impressive pageantry, the ceremonies of an ancient church today reflected the spirit of a mother country recently liberated from the Axis yoke. The sturdy Greek-Americans of this sponge capital of the western hemisphere celebrated the traditional Feast of the Epiphany as multitudes crowded the banks of the bayous and filled to capacity the glittering Church of St. Nicholas to watch an event that has become one of Florida's outstanding winter attractions.

Climaxing the morning exercises was the annual scramble for the golden cross in the chill waters of Spring Bayou, where it was tossed by Bishop Gerasimos. Mike Koulas, 17, son of a Greek sponge diver, who himself is training to become a sponge diver, retrieved the symbol. The cross had been broken as some 25 youths struggled for the honor of bringing it to the surface and receiving blessings from the high official of the church. Tradition has it that the winner will have a year of good luck. It was young Koulas' second try for the cross.

The celebration was the first held since the might of United Nations arms drove the hated Germans from Greek soil. One of the largest crowds in the history of the event attended the ceremony today, solidly lining the shores of the bayou.

Thirteen years ago today, Archbishop Damaskinos, even then destined for an epic role, took the gold cross from the hands of a dripping Greek diver. Today, Archbishop Damaskinos is the regent of Greece and titular head of a reborn government whose flaming spirit has challenged even a stubborn British prime minister.

Another Greek Catholic dignitary - Bishop Gerasimos - hurled the cross from a flag-draped platform into the crystal-clear pool today and waited confidently as another body plunged into the chilly depths to bring back the token emblematic of all Christian religions. A year ago, the hearts of this courageous Greek community were heavy laden because Nazi soldiers tramped the streets of Athens, and the Gestapo terror was abroad in their beloved motherland. But today, with a bright Florida sun beaming down from a cloud-flecked sky, it seemed that even nature beamed with joy at the turn of events. Because a reborn Greece, advancing perhaps on faltering feet, staggers slowly into the high noon of freedom.

So this picturesque celebration of a feast as old as the Disciple Peter, patriarch of all good fisher folk, was packed with emotion that spread like a grass fire to the throng of Catholics, Protestants, Jews and Gentiles who attended the pontifical high Mass to witness the ceremony of the cross and who tonight will attend a gala Greek dance at the community center hall.

Jan. 2, 1945

Hotel Fenway is open again

DUNEDIN - The Hotel Fenway opened yesterday for its sixteenth season, and C.T. Scanlan, the manager, said that prospects are very good, considering wartime conditions. A few guests have been here since early in December, and it is the custom for some to arrive previous to the official opening date.

Jan. 4, 1945

Manager: Countries should work together

CLEARWATER - City Manager Walter Bartholomew of Dunedin discussed relations with Russia in the postwar period yesterday when he spoke to members of the Clearwater Rotary Club at Peace Memorial Presbyterian Church. He said that good relations with that country will make possible the 60,000,000 jobs that President Roosevelt says this country needs.

The Dunedin city manager has visited Russia several times, and he was formerly concerned with road building and with the installation of concrete mixing machinery at one of the great Russian dams.

Looking back

Headlines through the years

A look back at the events, people and places that made North Pinellas the unique place that it is. The information is compiled from past editions of the St. Petersburg Times.

[Last modified January 5, 2008, 21:15:14]