{"id":23651,"date":"2021-04-28T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-28T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/snappingtheglobe.com\/?p=23651"},"modified":"2022-02-28T20:57:24","modified_gmt":"2022-03-01T01:57:24","slug":"st-photios-shrine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snappingtheglobe.com\/?p=23651","title":{"rendered":"Shrine Surprise"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u00a92021 Snapping the Globe, L.L.C. All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having visited Our Lady of La Leche Shrine and on my way to making a stop at each of St. Augustine’s illustrious churches on the trolley tour, it should be no surprise to anyone that I would seek out a small Greek Orthodox Shrine in the heart of the historic district. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Although I knew that this shrine was dedicated to Saint Photios the Great (Feast Day February 6), the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (middle of the ninth century) and to the first colony of Greek people who came to America in 1768, I was not sure what I was going to find on St. George Street. I wandered inside, finding no entrance fee and a small courtyard. Following the walkway to a pair of plain grey doors, I heaved one open and stepped inside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At first glance, I was a bit underwhelmed. A large sterile room with glass cases housing ornaments filled the room and photographs graced the walls. But as I turned right, color caught my eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An archway led to a little chapel decorated in the most magnificent manner. Each of its interior arches was trimmed intricately in gold leaf and the ceilings and alcoves contained Byzantine style frescoes of Greek apostles and saints. Unlike anything I have ever seen, even during my travels abroad, it was no surprise that it has been described as the “Jewel of St. George Street.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thankfully, I was alone for quite some time and I was able to absorb every little detail including an altar and a lectern and inspect each of the stunning frescoes before making way for other visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exhibits within the museum depict the life of early Greeks in America and the development of the Greek Orthodox Church in America. The displays tell the story of the First Greek colony in the New World through various artifacts, photographs and historical documents. Of particular interest was a black and white photographic exhibit on the inhabitants of Mount Athos by Nikos Vatopoulos. There was also another smaller photographic collection by Peter C. Yalanis detailing Greek ruins just before heading the gift shop filled with religious treasures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Although I had been excited to seek out the numerous churches in the city, this shrine took me by surprise. Much to my delight, I found a stunning piece of architecture hidden away in the center of the historic district. Now that my religious interest had been sparked by Our Lady of La Leche shrine and this amazing chapel, I was excited to set out and see the city’s other holy sites!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n