This is a continuation of the story about my dad, Steve Triantafyllou -- I love him and I always knew he was special, but this story is definite proof!!! The original story, translated from a Greek newspaper, can also be viewed in the original Greek.

As you know by reading the original story, Dad had a dream which led him to Stromi, Greece, during June of 2001 where he found an icon of the Virgin Mary (the Panagia Stromitissa) dating back to 1775. Dad returned to Stromi for the whole summer of 2002 and managed to complete a wall which included a plaque comemorating the spot where he found the Panagia Stromitissa, along a walkway leading spectators to the actual spot. He also was able to complete the installation of the footings and the floor of the church structure which is being built in that area.

In the span of time between December 26th, 2002, and March, 2003, he had three more dreams in which he saw a cross in the area in which he found the Panagia Stromitissa and heard a voice indicating to him, "This is not the end, there is more to be found". Dad was determined that when he returned to Greece to complete the external structure of the church in the summer of 2003 he would do some more searching with the help of fellow villagers and the builders. On July 10, 2003, after a Liturgy service, dad, the priest, and many other fellow villagers went to the site and started excavating slowly and carefully in the area, and another miracle occurred.

Two more icons, one of Christ made in 1774 and one of John the Baptist (or Forerunner) made in 1775, the same year as the Panagia Stromitssa, were found. These two were also engraved on large sheets of copper, and were rolled up and buried one on top of the other, unlike the copper Panagia which had been buried flat. The icons were inscribed as the Panagia was, with "work of GST, Stromi Greece" followed by the respective year. They also found a hollowed-out space in the shape of a cross where one might have been buried nearby, but all those years underground would have caused the wood to disintegrate, leaving behind only the empty space.

Phone calls were made via cell phone, TV crews arrived quickly to document the discovery, and the bells of the church in the village of Stromi rang to call to all the villagers to go and see what had been discovered. Ironically, these icons were found in the order in which they would be seen in a traditional Orthodox church. To the left of the altar door one sees the Panagia, and to the right of the altar door, one sees Christ, with John the Baptist to the right of Christ.

In the pictures above, you can see that the external structure of the building (walls, roof, dome, doors and windows) was completed in October, 2003, with the help of funding from the Village, the Province, the Archdiocese, and most importantly the donations made by private individuals which are greatly appreciated.