Saint Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine 

St. Augustine, FL

February 10th, 2022

https://stphotios.org/about/

Description

The Saint Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine is the first national shrine of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in America and is located in the Avero House on St. George Street in St. Augustine, Florida. The Greek Orthodox shrine is dedicated to the first colony of Greek people who came to America in 1768. Starting in St. Augustine, they took supplies and journeyed to the south and helped the New Smyrna colony settle. In the Avero House, the survivors of the New Smyrna Colony found refuge following a decade of tragedy. The Shrine consists of worship through exhibits depicting the life of early Greeks in America and the development of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, as well as the St. Photios Chapel. 

Exterior Photo #1

Exterior Photo #2

Artifact #1

This cross was found in the Avero House on St. George Street in St. Augustine, Florida during archaeological excavations in 1970. It was designated in 1971 by Archbishop Iakovos as the St. Photios Shrine Cross and has been adopted as the symbol of the National Shrine. The three holes are expected to symbolize the Holy Trinity.

Artifact #2

These shoes are known as Tsarouchis. They are the style of shoes worn by the Evzones, which are the Greek Soldiers of the Revolution of 1821 (Late 19th century/ Revolutionary War period, Greece). The pompoms represent the tree of liberty. Within the tip of the Tsarouchia is a knife hidden by the pompom. The blade could extract and was used during hand to hand combat, defending the tree of liberty.

In Conversation Image #1

https://www.holytrinitygoc.com

Much like the St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine, there is another Greek Orthodox that goes by Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. It is in a countryside Hellenic community in St. Augustine, which is now made up of Orthodox Christians from many ethnic backgrounds. It's unique blend of history of the first Greek Americans arrived in the New World, and the rich tradition of the earliest and original Christian church. The history of Orthodox Christianity goes back to the Apostles of Jesus Christ. The history of Greek immigrants in America dates back to 1768. Minorcans and Italians ultimately failed, those that survived moved from New Smyrna north to St. Augustine. Those Greek residents practiced their faith in various places, including the building that now houses St.Photios Shrine in the old city area of St Augustine. As more Greeks moved to north Florida in the 1800’s, there was initially no formal Greek Orthodox church in St Augustine. However, as the number of Greek Orthodox families in the area grew, they organized and incorporated a Hellenic Society, which eventually raised enough money to purchase a small church in downtown St Augustine 1976. The parish purchased property five miles west of downtown and built a new church, social hall, and classrooms in 2007. 

In Conversation Image #2

https://www.britannica.com/animal/peacock

On the threshold wall of one of the orthodox's entrances, there was a painted peacock. Peacocks are symbolic of re-growth and rejuvenation, royalty, respect, honor, integrity, masculine power, sisterhood, protection, vision, renewal, and good luck. Peacocks are native to India, Asia, and Central Africa but appear in the mythology and folklore of many diverse cultures. In addition, the peacock spirit animal is an important figure for those who feel a special kinship them. 

Passage/ Concept from ENG202

The main idea of "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" is perspective. As the title suggests, the poem is about different ways of seeing and perceiving the world—with the blackbird being the specific point of focus. The Greek Orthodox shrine is dedicated to the first colony of Greek people who came to America in 1768, who could be considered the "blackbird" in this case. Starting in St. Augustine, they took supplies and journeyed to the south and helped the New Smyrna colony settle. In the Avero House, the survivors of the New Smyrna Colony found refuge following a decade of tragedy. This Shrine consists of worship through exhibits depicting the life of early Greeks in America and the development of the Greek Orthodox Church in America. The shrine was constructed though the perspective of what was endured by the first colony of Greek people who came to America.

Creative Component 

For my creative component, I decided to make a candle because in the St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine, there was a room that had candlesticks in memory of the "Protoporoi"- our parents and grandparents who forged a new life in hopes of freedom and a better life. This wasn't my first time making a candle, as I commonly did it with my neighbors at home. To make candles, we would melt cubed, store-bought wax in a pot over the stove and pour it into a funnel to fill the glass of choice. The glass would have a cut candle wick held in place until the wax dried it in the center. This specific candle is melted with hibiscus (pink) and vanilla (white) scented wax.