The trustees of the St. Photios Foundation invite the public to join in celebration of Greek Landing Day 2016. This 2-day celebration will take place in St. Augustine at St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine on Friday, June 24 and Saturday, June 25. The V. Rev. Joseph Samaan, members of the St. Barbara Philoptochos Chapter and the parishioners of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Daytona, Florida have planned a weekend of activities witnessing Orthodox Christianity and celebrating the Hellenic Culture. Father Joseph will hold services of Supplication to the Virgin Mary at 5:00 p.m. Friday, June 24, in the St. Photios Chapel. The Greek Landing Day committee, chaired by Markella Balasis, invites the public to sample four Greek wines and purchase Greek appetizers. These ‘mezedakia plates’ will include spinach pie, meatballs, stuffed grape leaf and feta with a triangle of pita bread for $5.00. Greek coffee and traditional Greek pastries will also be for sale. At 7:00, all are invited to proceed to the Cathedral Basilica, located at 38 Cathedral Street in St. Augustine where at 7:30, a classical music concert, part of the 10th Annual St. Augustine Music Festival, will feature selections from Mozart, Bach, Debussy, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky. The concert is free. On Saturday, June 25, the faithful will attend matins, the hierarchical Divine Liturgy and the Blessing of the Five Loaves with Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos, presiding. The V Rev Joseph Samaan will assist. St. Augustine Mayor Nancy Shaver will read the City of St. Augustine Mayoral Proclamation following the colonists’ memorial. Ecclesiastical services begin at 9:00 a.m. The Foundation also celebrates the 33rd anniversary of the priestly ordination and 18th anniversary of the elevation of Bishop Dimitrios of Xanthos. His Grace is Director Emeritus on the Executive Board of the St. Photios Foundation. Toula Klironomou will host the Bishop’s Reception and a performance will be presented by the folk dancers of St. Demetrios parish under the leadership of Ashleigh Augustine. Sweet and savory Greek pastries will be sold at St. Photios Shrine until 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.
On June 26, 1768, the eight ships commissioned by Dr. Andrew Turnbull and the British Crown began arriving in St. Augustine, Florida. Most of the 1,403 immigrants who on April 17, 1768, set sail from their last port of call, Mahon, Minorca, came to the New World under the British Indentured Servants Act. Their task was to create the New Smyrna Colony. 500 were Greek, 120 were Corsicans, 70 were Italian, a few were from Asia Minor and the rest were from Minorca. The memory of these early immigrants and of all immigrants is honored at St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine. The Shrine is located at the Avero House, 41 St. George Street, St Augustine, Florida. For more information, please call 904 829 8205.