Tarpon Springs Mayor Locates Lost Icon of St. Nicholas on Greek Island
An icon of St. Nicholas, originally from Tarpon Springs and sent to Greece for restoration in 1923, has been located by the city's mayor on the Greek island of Aegina. Efforts are underway to repatriate the icon, with hopes for…
Tampa St. Petersburg, FL, September 20, 2026 — A significant religious artifact, an icon of St. Nicholas that originated in Tarpon Springs, Florida, has been found on the Greek island of Aegina. The icon was originally sent from Tarpon Springs to Greece in 1923 for restoration purposes.
The discovery was made by the current mayor of Tarpon Springs during a visit to Aegina. Details regarding the exact circumstances of the icon’s location were not immediately provided.
The icon’s journey to Greece for restoration over a century ago highlights a historical connection between the Tarpon Springs community and its Greek heritage. Following its rediscovery, significant efforts are now reportedly underway to facilitate the repatriation of the St. Nicholas icon back to its city of origin.
There are aspirations for the icon to be returned to Tarpon Springs in time for the city’s Epiphany celebration in 2027. This potential return date is planned to coincide with the establishment of a sister city agreement between Tarpon Springs and Aegina. The specific details and timeline for the sister city agreement were not provided in the summary.
The repatriation process involves coordination and planning to ensure the safe transport of the artifact. The exact status of the restoration efforts from 1923, or if the icon requires further work, was not specified.
The St. Nicholas icon holds historical and cultural importance for Tarpon Springs, a city with a large Greek Orthodox population. Its return would mark a significant moment for the community.
Story summarized from the original created by By Mark Schantz, Beacon Media on www.tampabay.com, see more information here.
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