St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Greek Orthodox church in Tarpon Springs, Florida.
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church is a Byzantine Revival church in Tarpon Springs, Florida, built with a central dome that defines its silhouette from the outside. The interior holds 23 stained glass windows, an altar carved from Pentelic marble, and three large chandeliers hanging below the dome.
The parish was founded in 1896, when John Cocoris brought Greek sponge divers to the area, and the community built its first church by 1907. The marble altar was originally displayed at the Greek pavilion of the 1939 New York World's Fair before finding its place here.
The church displays icons painted by Greek artist George Saclaridis in a traditional Orthodox style that covers nearly every wall of the interior. Walking through the space, visitors can follow the painted scenes almost like reading a story from one wall to the next.
The interior rewards a slow visit, so give yourself enough time to take in the windows, the altar, and the painted icons without feeling rushed. Sunday mornings draw a larger crowd, so a weekday visit tends to be quieter and easier to move around freely.
The three chandeliers beneath the dome were made in Czechoslovakia, which means they traveled a long way before ending up in a Florida church built by Greek immigrants. Most visitors look up at them without knowing they represent a separate journey of their own.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
