St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine

Saint George Street, Saint Augustine, Florida
Thursday, February 18, 2021

The St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine is dedicated to the first Greeks in America, who came to St. Augustine in 1768 and the refugees of the New Smyrna colony in 1777. It is located in the Avero House of St. George Street, where it had been a refuge to the survivors of the New Smyrna Colony who escaped indentured servitude. The shrine also serves as a museum to tell the story of the Menorcan, Corsican, Greek, and Italian, survivors. Collectively the group is called the Menorcans or Minorcans. To learn more please visit: stphotios.org

Artifact I:

St. Photios Chapel

The St. Photios Chapel is surrounded by Byzantine icons and frescoes. After a 1974 excavation of 32,000 artifacts by the University of Florida, the house was reconstructed in 1979. In 1982, it was officially opened by Archbishop Iakovos and the chapel was consecrated in 1985. 

Closer look at Altar

Artifact II:

Gold Reliquary

This gold reliquary holds the bone fragments of 18 saints of the ancient Christian Church. It was a gift given to the St. Photios Shrine in 1984 by the Three Hierarchs Church in Brooklyn, New York. The Vatican provided documents of authenticity certifying the bone fragments. 

Exterior I:

St. Photios is located at 41 St. George Street, after passing Cuna Street. 

Exterior II:

The house was originally constructed in 1749 by the Avero family. Later, refugees from the New Smyrna colony gathered here for worship. These survivors were originally brought from Greece, Sicily, Italy, Corsica, and Menorca. Their descendants remain in St. Augustine. 

In Conversation:

St. George Street Marker

Source: St. George Street Marker

The city of St. Augustine and local Menorcans continue to celebrate Minorcan heritage and culture. The city commemorates the Menorcans by placing this marker with their history and highlighting this statement by Menorcan descendant Steven Vincent Benet: "They came here, they toiled here, they suffered many pains, they lived here, they died here, they left singing names."

Menorcan descendants

Source: St. Augustine Record 

The Menorcan Cultural Society holds the Menorcan Heritage Celebration to share food, dances, songs, stories, photos, and crafts with each other and the public. Celebrating and sharing heritage is crucial to ensure that history and traditions survive. For more information, please visit menorcansociety.net. 

ENG 202 Connection:

His mind dwelt on wonder. "We got to plan something. We won't let it end for you, like you thought. We'll make a new beginning!"

-The Surrounded, (159), D'Arcy McNickle

Much like Max's and Archilde's excitement for a fresh start in a new place, the Menorcans embraced the chance of new opportunities far away from their homes. However, Archilde never gets to leave home and the Menorcans arrived in the New Smyrna colony to find diseases and abuses. The initial eagerness to begin anew overlaps Archilde's idea of moving to Europe to study music and the Menorcan's to provide for their families. 

Creative Component:

The Greek Orthodox Shrine had many artifacts and art that were worth photographing. This collage contains only a few of the many pictures of that day but that would not fit the previous components but are still powerful and worth including. These include the Menorcan men from the New Smyrna Colony and the Greek woman who portrays what Greek women would wear at this time.