An important part of the Epiphany celebration is the role of the dove bearer.
Each year, a young woman is chosen from the Greek community to carry a live dove in her hands, which represents the holy spirit, during a procession from the church to Spring Bayou on Jan. 6.
Many times, the dove bearers are carrying on a family legacy as other relatives performed the task in previous years.
Here’s a list of previous dove bearers:
1920-1934 Costas Tsimpikas
1935 Melba Smitzes
1939 Evee Anastassiou
1940 Mary Lerios
1942 Mary Gillis
1943 Maggie Kavouklis Nichols
1944 Minnie Fassol
1945 Katherine Kavouklis Arvanitis
1946 Helen Sakiotis
1947 Evelyn Kavouklis Joanos
1948 Mary Nicholas
1949 Nina Peperis
1950 Zula Peperis
1951 Tasula Nicholas Syron
1952 Elsie Sakiotis
1953 Joanna Dichtas Paitakis
1954 Angie Pappas
1955 Leoni Peperis
1956 Marcena Kolianos
1957 Evelyn Miaoulis Bilirakis
1958 Nena Psaras Assimack
1959 Evelyn Spirtos Samarkos
1960 Mary Diamandis Kouchis
1961 Kally Stergos Soulounias
1962 Zula Hourdas
1963 Evelyn Lelekis Fatolitis
1964 Tina Manticos
1965 Kathy Maninis Alesafis
1966 Nancy Miradakis Lyras
1967 Mary Georgiou Moutsatsos
1968 Mary Nicholas Drew
1969 Maria Katzaras
1970 Florinda Pappas
1971 Leah Cretekos Willis
1972 Doukisa Giallourakis
1973 Anastasia Kiriazis Smith
1974 Stephanie Lelekis Sullivan
1975 Chris Megaloudis Rondeau
1976 Irene Karaphillis Tharin
1977 Evelyn Manias Miller
1978 Lena Pantelis Saroukos
1979 Irene Grigoris Delmadouros
1980 Penny Zervos
1981 Maria Zervos
1982 Elena Katsulos
1983 Helen Gonatos
1984 Renee Katsaras
1985 Elaine Kolias
1986 Andrea Faklis
1987 Mary Gonatos
1988 Anastasia Cypreos
1989 Maria Loulourgas
1990 Kostadina Kanells
1991 Sophia Saravanos
1992 Loula Giannet
1993 JoAnna Papadakos
1994 Kalliope Kanellis
1995 Irene Bakas
1996 Katina Kavouklis
1997 Irene Mellis
1998 Vasiliki Leontaras
1999 Sandy Georgakakis
2000 Toni Tharin
2001 JoAnna Frangos
2002 Chrisovaladou Kavouklis
2003 Kally Elli Flytzanis
2004 Kaliope Mott
2005 Catherine Velardocchia
2006 Kaliope Hatzileris
2007 Kalliope Cortessis
2008 Irene Koulianos
2009 Ioana Bociu
2010 Ephemia Coburn
2011 Stavroula Karavokiros
2012 Anna Athanasatos
2013 Evelyn Bilirakis
2014 Joanna Theophilopoulos
2015 Theodora Lialios
2016 Fotini Sisois
2017 Maria Chagaris
2018 Kiersten Spanos
2019 Stella Bilirakis
2020 Cynthia Tsaoussis
2022 Katerina Lecourezos
2023 Elena Gonatos
2024 Chloe Kotis