Source: News Chief Christians who fled their homeland to find safety back President Donald Trump’s travel ban. By Lane DeGregory Tampa Bay Times TARPON SPRINGS – The special service wouldn’t start for an hour. But by 5 p.m. Thursday, people were pouring into the church. Men in dark suits, hoisting toddlers on their hips. Women in high heels, pulling lace veils over their dark hair. They came from Miami, Orlando and Jacksonville, to Florida’s largest Syrian Orthodox church. They came to see the church patriarch, to take communion with him, to get his blessing and hear his news. The worshipers…
Archbishop Dionysius John Kawak hugs Gabriella Kouki, 8, left, and Marie Shabo, 7, after the three-hour service. It was attended by more than 200 Orthodox Christians, who are a minority in their Syrian homeland. [EVE EDELHEIT / TAMPA BAY TIMES]