Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
We celebrated a wonderful Doxology and Divine Liturgy this evening to express our gratitude to Saint Nicholas and our Lord. For those unable to attend, we prayed for you and for those who are still struggling with the clean up efforts and those who are now in the path of destruction as the storm gains strength and heads for South Carolina. May God protect all those in the path of this storm. The storm has been catastrophic for so many south of us.
As life gets back to normal in Tarpon Springs, I wanted to update you on our ministries schedule.
All services in the Cathedral will take place as scheduled.
The Young Adult Retreat scheduled to take place at St John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Tampa will take place as scheduled.
ALL OTHER MINISTRIES WILL CONTINUE as scheduled moving forward.
Since the storm was not as bad for Tarpon Springs as originally expected, the Cathedral Office will reopen Friday at 9am. The Cathedral is also open for prayer according to normal hours.
Finally, our Cathedral will establish a special relief fund for those suffering from the storm. You will be hearing more about that fund in the days and weeks to come. Needless to say, many will need our help. We were spared a serious storm, but others are suffering and need our help.
I look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday for Divine Liturgy at 9am.
In Christ,
Fr Athanasios (this is the final Hurricane Ian Update)
Good Morning Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good and His mercy endures forever! (Psalm 106)
The hurricane has left our state and we are in the clear. Pinellas County has lifted the evacuation orders, and we are free to return to our homes. Praise the Lord! We in Tarpon Springs have been spared the storm. But, as we know our brothers and sisters further south were not so lucky.
I have been in contact with our neighboring clergy and as we receive word of the needs of our brothers and sisters, we will do whatever is necessary to help them.
I visited the Cathedral just a few minutes ago, and all is good. To give thanks to God, in our Orthodox tradition, we will gather for DOXOLOGY OF THANKS AND DIVINE LITURGY THIS EVENING at 6pm.
Once again Saint Nicholas has interceded and God has protected us. Let us express our thanks to God in worship in His Cathedral.
Thankful to God,
Fr Athanasios
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As we prepare for Hurricane Ian to make landfall south of Tampa Bay, we are thankful to God and Saint Nicholas for keeping us safe. That means, as we know, others are in danger of a serious Hurricane south of our city. Please continue to pray to Saint Nicholas for protection during the storm for ALL THOSE who are in the path of the storm.
Locally, we are expecting heavy winds and flooding. Please use caution and don't take any unnecessary risks.
Once the storm passes, we will work with our neighboring communities and help those who will see damage from this storm. I would ask you to prepare for special donations for our neighbors south. We will help in any way we can for those in need.
Stay tuned to your StNicholasTarpon App for urgent updates and any notifications throughout the storm. Remember, when it comes to nature, things can always change.
Offering constant prayers to Saint Nicholas,
Fr Athanasios
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This evening we offered a beautiful Paraklesis to St Nicholas in our Cathedral. Following the Paraklesis, Fr Theofanis, Mr Nikitas Manias and I went to Sunset Beach and blessed the Gulf of Mexico with Holy Water and the Icon of Saint Nicholas.
Since the storm is predicted to begin arriving in the area overnight tonight and tomorrow. At this time the Cathedral will remain closed for the duration of the storm. The services scheduled for tomorrow and Thursday are cancelled. We will reopen the Cathedral with a Doxology of Thanks once the storm passes.
ADDITIONAL CANCELLATIONS:
Taverna Night for the Greek Dance Ministry that was scheduled for Saturday is canceled.
OFFICE REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL MONDAY - We will tentatively reopen the Cathedral Office on Monday.
Please take this storm seriously. It will be a strong storm by the time it passes by Tarpon Springs. The current tracking has the storm to our East.
Remember to download the FREE StNicholasTarpon app to remain in connection during the storm. I am able to post via the app so long as I have cell coverage. Watch the listserv, Facebook our website, and the StNicholasTarpon App for updates.
St Nicholas intercede for us.
Fr Athanasios
Good afternoon Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
As of this 2pm today, Hurricane Ian has been moving toward the East and will have an impact on Tarpon Springs. In an abundance of caution we have made the following updates to our ministry calendar at St Nicholas.
Unless otherwise indicated ALL CHURCH SERVICES WILL TAKE PLACE. We will offer PARAKLESIS TO ST NICHOLAS on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 6pm in the Cathedral
Monday, September 26 - Friday, September 30
ALL MINISTRIES CANCELED.
OFFICE CLOSED - Tuesday and Wednesday
We will continue to monitor the situation and respond appropriately as the situation changes.
May Saint Nicholas intercede and protect all in the path of Hurricane Ian.
In Christ,
Fr Athanasios