LAST UPDATE: 12:39
The Feast of Epiphany is the most important day for this quaint city of the Tampa Bay area, known around the country and the world, as “Epiphany City.”
Archbishop Elpidophoros of America presided for the first time since he became Archbishop last year, at the annual 114th celebration of Theophany (Epiphany), the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy, the Great Blessing Service of the Waters and the Dive for the Cross in Spring Bayou, while many thousands of pilgrims and visitors attended the festivities.
For the first time in the history of Tarpon Springs the sitting Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who is visiting the U.S. to meet with President Trump, was in attendance.
“Today is a historic day, as after 100 years we have here with us the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis,” Archbishop Elpidophoros said, arousing the enthusiasm of the gathered people.
“I wish you a happy New Near and enlightenment,” the Prime Minister said, as dozens of young Greeks had already dived into the water.
The Prime Minister with his wife attended the Divine Liturgy for Epiphany at St. Nicholas Church in Tarpon Springs along with countless other Greeks living in this city of Florida.
“It is a great emotion for me to be with you on this very important day for Orthodoxy,” the Prime Minister underlined in his brief speech and continued: “Here, the heart of Hellenism beats stronger than anywhere else in America. I thank you through my heart and on behalf of my wife for this very warm welcome.”
Mr Mitsotakis mentioned that Eleftherios Venizelos had been at the same place on January 30, 1922, 98 years ago.
“A few months later, and as he was preparing to negotiate the Lausanne Treaty after a major national disaster, the Greeks from Tarpon Springs sent him a greeting telegram, which I sought and found. They wished him to stay strong for the good of the Nation,” the Prime Minister said.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis referred emphatically on the Greeks in Tarpon Springs, who have been in this American city for more than a century.
He said he was happy and excited to be given the opportunity to congratulate the new Archbishop of America, Elpidophoros, at Tarpon Springs.
“I know him personally, he is great and as his name says he brings hope for better days in Hellenism here and everywhere in the world,” he said. Addressing Archbishop Elpidophoros, he added: “You should know that the Greek state will support your work and the Theological School in Boston, financially too.”
Also, addressing the Greek youth who dived for the Cross at the Great Blessing of the Waters, he wished them to keep the power of the Cross and the strength of the faith within them.
“I wish you all the best. And to all the young kids who will dive in a little bit in the cold, I think, waters. In Greece the weather is very bad at the moment, however, a bright sun has welcomed us here,” the Prime Minister said.
