St. Nicholas to gain new leader
Al
St. Nicholas to gain new leader
After 29 years at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Tarpon, the
beloved Father Tryfon has a new role.
TERRI BRYCE REEVES
Published September 25, 2004
TARPON SPRINGS - In this community of saltwater bayous, sponge ocks and
last names that end with "s," Father Tryfon Theophilopoulos is a
well-known, respected and beloved figurehead.
He has led the city's religious and cultural epicenter, St. Nicholas
Greek Orthodox Cathedral, for 29 years.
Now he is 69. His hair has become the color of snow; it complements his
bronzed skin. His dark chocolate eyes still twinkle when he smiles. And
with his trim physique, he looks like the picture of health.
But his looks belie reality. He is gravely ill. The man of miracles is in
need of one.
Kidney disease has slowed him down considerably. He undergoes dialysis
three times a week and hopes a new kidney may be found.
"I want to continue to help the church and community for as long as I
can," he said.
Though not well, he is not retiring. Rather, he is being elevated to the
cathedral's dean emeritus, where he will continue working on a limited
basis performing sacraments, good works and such.
On Sunday, a new leader takes the helm. At the 10 a.m. service, the Rev.
Father Sebastian Skordallos, Archimandrite, will be installed as the new
dean of the cathedral.
The two men have been friends for 25 years.
The Rev. Sebastian, a native of Cyprus, wears a traditional beard, is
celibate, does not divulge his age and is in line to become a bishop one
day. He comes to this area from Marietta, Ga., where he served as parish
priest of the Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, a congregation of
mostly young, second- and third-generation Greeks. Recently he saw the
completion of a new Byzantine-style church with an amphitheater.
Now the bishop has asked him to pilot the mother church of 60 Greek
Orthodox churches in the Tampa Bay area. The Tarpon Springs parish is the
only Greek Orthodox cathedral in Central Florida, a title bestowed by a
bishop in the 1970s. It is home of the largest Epiphany celebration in the
nation.
"It is a wonderful opportunity," the Rev. Sebastian said. "This is a
beautiful community, a Greek village where people are hungry for spiritual
growth."
He looks forward to an Oct. 16 groundbreaking for the church's new
parochial school on Keystone Road that will serve kindergarten through the
eighth grade and eventually high schoolers. Another big event is the
Epiphany centennial celebration in January 2006, which is sure to garner
worldwide attention.
He wants to reach out to inactive members and revive the youth ministry.
He hopes to increase stewardship among the congregation.
He will have large shoes to fill.
Father Tryfon came here as a priest in 1975, the same year Louis Pappas
moved his famous restaurant to its current location. During his tenure, he
has led efforts to build a $4.3-million community center, renovate the
cathedral twice and erect the future parochial school.
"The community center is my baby," he said. "We fought for that one."
The St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral Center seats 1,000 and is the
home of the annual Greek festival, which raises thousands of dollars for
the area's poor. Father Tryfon said it still needs more decoration.
"We hope to get a big beautiful chandelier," he said.
In 1993, Father Tryfon faced controversy when a $22,000 solid bronze
statue of an Epiphany diver sculpted by artist Mitch Kolbe was erected on
church property and unveiled in January 1994. Some thought it should not
stand on church grounds. Others, mainly mothers, fought for a certain look.
"Everyone wanted it to look like their son," Father Tryfon said. "When
the archbishop came, he thought it was fantastic the way it was."
Father Tryfon and his wife Helen have three adult children. Dean, a
neonatologist, practices at Helen Ellis Memorial and Tampa General
hospitals. Jerry is a lawyer. Daughter Kathy Boillot is a dentist.
Not bad for a man who did not know the language when he came to this
country in 1961. When he arrived in the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of
Theology in Brookline, Mass., he had a note pinned to him that said, "Help
him. He doesn't speak English."
His presence has become so well known in the community, even those who
are not Greek and do not attend the church admire him.
"There is great concern in the community for his health," said Tony
Leisner, a Tarpon Springs civic, social and business leader who is not
Greek. "He is a very valuable asset to the community. He's done a
tremendous job inspiring the young people to stay involved with the church
and to maintain their cultural heritage. He's a humanist, not a political
animal. He reaches out to everyone."
The two clergymen are hard to separate from the institution they
represent. The original church was chartered in 1906. In the 1930s and
early '40s, the sponge industry was at its zenith and Greek sponge divers
tithing to the church were able to raise the $75,000 needed for the new
Byzantine-style church, a replica of St. Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople.
Completed in 1943, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, at 36 N
Pinellas Ave., is striking, with numerous stained glass windows and walls
embellished with gold foil, decorative niches and fresco paintings. The
domed ceiling is painted with a picture of God.
The focal point of the sanctuary is adorned with a marble altar, marble
walls and benches. Originally used as a small chapel for the 1939-40 New
York World's Fair and later stored in the Greek Embassy in Washington,
D.C., the 60 tons of Grecian marble were purchased for about $25,000.
Father Tryfon thinks the cathedral, named after the patron saint of
seamen, protects the city.
"Since it was built, we have never had a direct hit from a hurricane," he
said. "Elena started coming here, but then it stayed out at sea."
IF YOU GO
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral is at 36 N Pinellas Ave. A prayer
service will be held at 8:30 a.m. Sunday and a Divine Liturgy will be at 10
a.m. A luncheon will follow. For information, call the church office at
(727) 937-3540.
© Copyright 2003 St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved