ST. PHOTIOS GREEK ORTHODOX NATIONAL SHRINE OPENS ITS DOORS TO THE COMMUNITY
WITH SECOND ANNUAL CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE
Saint Augustine, FL: His Grace Bishop Demetrios of Mokissos, the Hierarchal Proistamenos of the St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine in St. Augustine, Florida, welcomed hundreds of supporters, friends, and visitors from throughout the nation during a festive holiday Open House in the courtyard of the shrine.
The 2nd Annual Christmas Open House at the Saint Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine was held on Sunday, December 6, the Feast of Saint Nicholas of Myra, from 4:00—6:00 p.m. The Saint Barbara’s Philoptochos Society of the Saint Demetrios Church in Daytona Beach, FL, sponsored the occasion, which was co-chaired by Christy Xynidis and Denise Brown. Four young, talented Greek folk dancers, dressed in traditional Greek costumes from the St. Demetrios Church in Dayton Beach, FL enlivened historic St. George Street with a number of traditional folk dances. Despite the Covid-19 restrictions and pandemic, holiday atmosphere, cheer, celebration were enjoyed by all.
The opening prayer and ceremonies were live streamed on FaceBook and YouTube.
Bishop Demetrios stated that, “Our philoxenia included the sharing of food and beverages and continued the age old Greek tradition of decorating our own ‘St Photios’ karavaki and shared the Greek holiday tradition with our guests.”
Prior to the Open House, a hierarchal Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the chapel of the Shrine officiated by Bishop Demetrios and area clergy and with the participation of renown chanters Eleftherios Chasanidis and Dr. Constantino Kokenes, both from Atlanta, Georgia.