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Epiphany Rites Take Lots of Planning

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KLINT LOWRY, SUNCOAST NEWS STAFF

Published: January 9, 2008

TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. - TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. - Although the inspiration for the Epiphany Celebration is pretty straightforward, the event itself is a very large, complicated operation that requires a small army of dedicated volunteers.

Thousands will descend on the city tomorrow to witness the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Epiphany Celebration, the largest of its kind in the United States, a religious spectacle.

On the other hand, to the people for whom St. Nicholas is their spiritual home – for many a lifelong home – it is a day of great significance, one to be celebrated in earnest.

Handling the logistics of a large-scale event while maintaining the sanctity of the holiday is the responsibility of the Epiphany Committee, headed this year by chairman Nick Koulias.

"What keeps us grounded and keeps the event what it's supposed to be is keeping focused on what it's about," Koulias said. "It's the baptism of Christ."

Epiphany activities begin at 8 a.m. with the Orthros, a Matins, or morning, service. This is followed by the Archieratical Divine Liturgy, the Great Blessing of the Waters at the cathedral, a procession to Spring Bayou, a blessing of the waters and the tossing of the cross.

After the ceremony at the bayou, there will be a Glendi, or party, at Craig Park, and the Epiphany Ball at 8 p.m. in Theophilos Hall at Spanos-Pappas Community Center.

"It's a lot of work," Koulias said. "We've been working on it since August."

Emmanuel Gombos has been the committee chairman in past years, and couldn't stay away at crunch time, helping his old friend out.

There are about 33 subcommittees, Gombos said, each responsible for different aspects of the event, from transportation and accommodations for Archbishop Demetrios and other guests.

Communications have to be coordinated, from media relations to the sound system at Spring Bayou to the closed circuit television broadcast for the hundreds who will watch the ceremonies at the Community Center.

That raises one of the touchier aspects of preparing for Epiphany – seating – namely who will get into the cathedral. Built to accommodate 300, it can be configured to shoehorn in as many as 500, which is still just a fraction of the demand for seats.

"There's always a seating issue," Koulias said. On the one hand, there are many visitors who want VIP treatment. The committee has to draw the line on their definition of VIP.

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