St. Photios National Shrine

10/11/2026

Glory to God!

10/10/2026

This morning our friend Father Thomas Willis from St. Mark The Evangelist Catholic Church brought in a group including the Knights of Columbus to tour our sacred shrine and hear about our rich history. We had a great discussion on icons, the Nicene Creed and the hope of communion of our churches.

10/08/2026

On the same day that US Secretary Of State Marco Rubio was delivering very important and symbolic speeches during the US-Greece Strategic Dialogue, our most sacred national shrine was visited by a delegation of the Hellenic Army led by Brigadier General Paschalis Filousis and his assistant Major Dimitrios Chondroudakis along with our friend, Lieutenant Colonel Dimitrios Tasioulas, the military attache for the Embassy Of Greece. We provided a tour and history of The St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine and what it represents as the "Plymouth Rock" for the Greek Diaspora and the beginning of the Orthodox Faith in the new world. Our V. Rev Fr. Maximos Politis, First Lady of the Shrine Cynthia Hollister and friends of the Shrine hosted a dinner for the delegation. Our Friends Thomas Lekas and Paula Marchman Lekas, Gary and Faye Peterson, Steve and Maria Kostorizos Douvas shared stories of the history of the diaspora in Florida and exemplified their strong Orthodox Faith as well as their continued focus on preserving Hellenism.

10/01/2026

09/29/2026

Incredible blessing with such a historical visit! We were honored by a visit with Jim and Millie Green who came down from Virginia. Both Jim and Millie's respective families have a long history in the United States. Millie herself is a Salazar. She is a direct decendent of Geronimo De Hita Y Salazar who married Victoria de la Vera (Daughter of Francisco Garcia de la Vera). Our sacred shrine that many of you know as the old "Avero House" was actually named the Salazar-Avero House. Millie's family lived in this sacred hallowed ground. We are excited to be working with Millie and Jim as they share their memorialized history with us as well as the historical societies in St. Augustine.

09/26/2026

📆 Save the Date!

In March 2027, join us as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the 1777 journey of more than 600 Minorcan, Greek, and other settlers from the New Smyrna Colony to freedom in St. Augustine.

The eight-day event will begin in New Smyrna Beach, and end in the historic town of St. Augustine, through programs, services, educational opportunities, commemorative experiences and activities. The commemoration will explore the lives, struggles, sacrifices, faith and legacy of the Mediterranean people who became part of Britain’s largest agricultural settlement in Colonial Florida.

Stay tuned for more details!

09/24/2026

09/23/2026

As we embrace the Ecclesiastical New Year, we invite you to join the Friends of the Shrine Ministry. This initiative is essential for preserving the first national shrine of the Greek Orthodox Church in America. Your contributions ensure the continuation of our programs and outreach efforts, honoring the legacy of early Greek immigrants. Learn more about our mission and how you can help sustain this sacred space for future generations.

Email from St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine Support the St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine Dear Friend of the Shrine, With the beginning of the Ecclesiastical New Year, I am asking