St. Photios
Greek Orthodox
National Shrine
In St. Augustine, Florida | Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Sunday - Saturday: 10:00am - 5:00pm
a few words
About Us
Just steps from St. Augustine’s historic city gates at St. George Street, the St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine, an institution of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, is dedicated to the first colony of Greek people who came to America in 1768. The Shrine consists of exhibits depicting the life of early Greeks in America and the development of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, and the St. Photios Chapel.
Come and visit our magnificent Orthodox Chapel filled with Byzantine style frescoes and take a tour of our historic museum. Special exhibits tell the story of the First Greek Colony in the New World. This freestanding exhibit contains various artifacts, photographs and historical documents.
Come and visit our magnificent Orthodox Chapel filled with Byzantine style frescoes and take a tour of our historic museum. Special exhibits tell the story of the First Greek Colony in the New World. This freestanding exhibit contains various artifacts, photographs and historical documents.
Let us
Light a Candle
On Saturday, February 27, 1982, a tradition began ...
At the dedication of our National Shrine, the beautiful St. Photios Chapel came alive with the glow of candles lit in memory of the “Protoporoi” – our parents, and grandparents and great grandparents who forged a new life in a strange land so that we might enjoy freedom and a better life.
Hundreds of candles were lit by the Greek Orthodox faithful present that day. Thousands, however, were not able to be present for this historic event. But they were able to participate in spirit. They sent in names of their ancestors who first came to this land and we lit a candle for them. This is the tradition we speak of now. Each day in the year ahead, candles will be lit on behalf of the names submitted to the Shrine.
