TAMPA, FL – One year from now, Greek-Americans will celebrate their 250 years continuous presence in Florida, since their first arrival to the area in which New Smyrna is now situated, adjacent to St. Augustine.
The ceremonial annual celebration and commemoration will take place at St. Photios National Shrine in St. Augustine, and will include a lot of events with the presence ofmany civil officials and other various personalities across the spectrum.
The festivities will take place May 15-19. Dr. Dan Schaffer will lecture on the history of the New Smyrna Colony.
Dr. Ann Browning Masterswill address the cultural heritage of the Greek colonists. There will be tours around the historical sites of St. Augustine. Also, there will be Greek music of the genre that flourished in the United States in years past.
Dr. Tina Bucuvalas, curator for the City of Tarpon Springs, will serve as curator of the event.
On February 4, the St. Photios Shrine will celebrateits patronsaint’s namedayat the Casa Monica in St. Augustine. Featured speaker will be Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou, and Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta will attend.