TARPON SPRINGS, FL –
Sylvia Marakas, an attorney practicing in Pinellas County, has been named the 2026 Epiphany Dove Bearer, -an honor bestowed upon a dedicated member of the Cathedral community whose faith, service, and family heritage embody the meaning of the Feast of Epiphany-, according to a press release from St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Tarpon Springs, FL.
A Pinellas County native, Sylvia Marakas has been a member of the St. Nicholas Cathedral Choir Ministry for more than three years. She currently serves on the St. Nicholas Cathedral Restoration Capital Campaign Cabinet and the Oversight and Audit Committee and has volunteered with the Philoptochos, assisting in numerous fundraising initiatives.
Growing up, she attended services at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Clearwater as well as at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Tarpon Springs.
Her family heritage traces to Kalymnos, Greece, and the Abruzzo region of Italy, with deep roots in Tarpon Springs and Pinellas County. Her grandparents, Paul and Sylvia Giuliani, were founding members of St. Stefanos Greek Orthodox Church in St. Petersburg in 1961 and longtime supporters of St. Nicholas Cathedral. Her grandmother was also a member of the Cathedral Choir. The Giuliani family was among the first Italian‑American families to settle in Tarpon Springs, and their public‑works utility construction company contributed significantly to infrastructure development throughout Pinellas County. In addition, Sylvia’s great-grandfather, John Marakas, was a sponge diver in Tarpon Springs in the early 1900s.
Sylvia Marakas expressed sincere gratitude to her family for their unwavering support. As she noted, she is deeply honored to serve as the Dove Bearer for Epiphany 2026 and expressed her gratitude to Choir Director John Lulias for selecting her for this role and for his continued dedication to the Cathedral and its choir. She also thanked Dale Terrell, Renee Katsaras, and Niko Gonatos for their support.
The Feast of Epiphany holds deep spiritual significance for Christians worldwide and is especially meaningful to the St. Nicholas Cathedral community in Tarpon Springs. As noted in the press release, the 2026 celebration coincides with the beginning of a multi-million-dollar restoration project to preserve the historic St. Nicholas Cathedral for future generations.
Additional information about the St. Nicholas Cathedral Restoration Project is available at https://stnicholastarpon.org/restoration-project
