I can’t begin to tell you how many times I drove past the Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Tarpon Springs is a well-established Greek community and one of my favorite places to go for gyros, souvlaki, and the best baklava! There are several beautiful places to explore in the Tarpon Springs community. The first is the sponge docks where I first found the best baklava. The second fun place to explore is near the orthodox cathedral. The main street near the cathedral is lined with restaurants and several boutique and antique stores.

I made plans to meet a friend at one of the downtown restaurants near the cathedral. I arrived early to browse the antique stores. As I approached the cathedral, I noticed people entering and exiting its doors. I had never been inside this cathedral. With time to spare before my friend arrived, I decided to explore.

The St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral was completed in 1943 and modeled after the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey. The Hagia Sophia was originally a Christian basilica and the principal church of the Byzantine Empire. After the Ottoman conquest in 1453, the Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque. It now stands as a museum under the Turkish Republic.

This cathedral in Tarpon Springs, modeled after the Hagia Sophia, contains 23 stained glass windows depicting the life of Jesus and the saints. The three large chandeliers in the cathedral are from Czechoslovakia. Another unique feature was the altar which was originally part of the Greek exhibit at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. This altar was replaced in 1965. More than 40 icons are displayed throughout the cathedral.

The history of Tarpon Springs is quite unique and begins with a sponge diver and trader who settled in the area in 1896. By 1907, the Greek population was large enough to support a Greek Orthodox church. The first church was a wood frame structure painted white. By 1935, the community had outgrown the first church and began raising funds for the new structure. Construction for the existing church began in 1941 and was completed in 1943. The church was later elevated to cathedral status in 1979.

There are many festivals celebrated in this thriving Greek community, however, in 1975, the Tarpon Springs Board of Commissioners passed a resolution designating the city the “Epiphany City” of the United States. The Epiphany is a Christian feast day celebrated on January 6. This feast honors the Magi who were led by a star to visit the baby Jesus after he was born. The Magi are also known as the Three Kings or Wise Men. The St. Nicholas Cathedral hosts an annual Epiphany celebration in which the archbishop blesses the Spring Bayou and casts a white wooden cross into its waters. Young men, aged 16-18, dive into the bayou to retrieve the cross, symbolizing Christ’s baptism. The boy who retrieves the cross is said to have special blessings for the entire year. This event has been celebrated in Tarpon Springs for over 120 years, making it one of the largest Epiphany celebrations in the Western Hemisphere. A statue of an Epiphany diver is located at the front of the St. Nicholas Cathedral.

I was happy to finally explore the inside of this beautiful cathedral. Enjoy the video below that displays the beauty of this local treasure.

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