Things to do in Tarpon Springs, Florida (FL): The Best Sights & Landmarks

Reviewed By DeanMurphy2020 - Orlando, United States

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.