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The Greek community observes many types of festive secular occasions. The successful Greek Revolution against 400 years of Ottoman rule is celebrated on March 25 throughout the Greek diaspora. In this parade down Tarpon Avenue during the 1940s, men…

In Tarpon Springs, Greek Independence Day is usually celebrated with a parade and glendi (party) that include dance groups, children in regional costumes, community organizations, church officials, and dignitaries from Greece. This image shows Greek…

Vasile G. Faklis (1892-1982) left Symi for Tarpon Springs, where he founded Faklis Department Store and Shoe Repair in 1912. He proudly served in the U.S. army during World War I and is shown here in his military uniform in 1917. His sons, George and…

This group of Greek American soldiers served in a single unit during World War I with Pantelis Peronis (1893-1953), who is the second from the left. Peronis came to the U.S. before 1910, worked as a sponge diver, and raised a family of six children…

Shown here in his military uniform during World War I, Nick Karavokiros (1892-1945) worked as a cook on a sponge boat owned by the Samarkos family. The family lived in Indiana before moving to Tarpon Springs.

The Karaphillis family gathers together for a visit from George Karaphillis during leave from his duties during World War II. They are Katina Karaphillis Nicholis, Father Theophilos Karaphillis. George Karaphillis in military uniform, Kaliope…

Tony Karavokiros served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. While on leave he visited his mother Maria with another sailor circa 1943. Many Greek Tarponites, who had observed the Axis powers invade Greece early in the war, served bravely in the…

The sponge boat Eleni, owned by Charles Samarkos, is prepared for use by the U.S. Army. John A. Samarkos and Michael A. Samarkos are standing center front in suits, and Charles A. Samarkos is in the bow. During World War II, several sponge boats were…

Father Theophilos Karaphillis (1883-1963) with George Anastassiou to his right, Vasile Faklis (then Papafaklis) to his left, and the first choir in front of old St. Nicholas Greek Church, circa 1925. Karaphillis came from Kalymnos in 1922 and served…

Byzantine choir The Damaskenos, led by Father George Anastassiou (1900-1962), poses on the steps leading to the Spring Bayou pier in 1934. In the early 20th century, priests and others in America began to compose new Greek Orthodox liturgical music…