If you are in the area and the cathedral is open is worth stopping to see. Beautiful inside and enjoyed our walk through, especially with it being around Christmas time.
This Neo-Byzantine architectural style Greek Orthodox cathedral is TripAdvisor reviewer #1 rated Tarpon Springs attraction, for good reason. It is the center of Tarpon Springs Greek culture. St. Nicholas hosts an annual Epiphany celebration each January 6, when Greek Orthodox boys aged 16–18 dive into Spring Bayou to retrieve a white wooden cross, said to bring good luck to the finder. It is the Western Hemisphere’s largest such event. A statue of an epiphany diver is in front of the church.
The domed main building was completed in 1943 modeled in part on Hagia Sophia (an astounding architectural marvel originally constructed 1,500 years ago as a Christian basilica) in Istanbul, which features Byzantine and Gothic Revival architectural styles. The 23 stained glass windows adorning the dome like a crown depict episodes in the life of Jesus and the saints. The dome’s three enormous chandeliers were imported from what was Czechoslovakia. The incomparable 60-ton altar is made of Pentelic marble imported from Greece, and was part of a Greek exhibit in the 1939 New York World’s Fair. Mount Pentelicus or Pentelikon (Greek: Πεντέλη, Πεντελικόν or Πεντελικό Όρος) is a mountain situated between Athens and Marathon.
The cathedral was closed when I visited in early June. Viewing Internet photos of the interior caused me to plan another tour of Tarpon Springs next year. There are, however, many interesting features surrounding the structures. A member of the congregation imparted much information about the history of this magnificent cathedral.
The St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral is a great church with alot of history. The church welcomes people from out of town.
This place was closed but the cleaning person allowed us to go in and look around. It was fantastic. It was very reminiscent of the older churches you see in Europe. I would highly recommend reading about the church then coming here. The statue out front to the church itself.
The Cathedral is the centerpiece of the Greek community in Tarpon Springs and involved in celebrating Palm Sunday and Easter and other seasonal religious events. The congregation takes pride in preserving and sharing Greek culture be it dance or music or foods. The stained glass windows and icons are a must see.
