Blogs

Blogs

St. John Chrysostom Oratorical National Festival, June 4

 

ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM ORATORICAL FESTIVAL

National Finals, June 4

 

The Department of Religious Education of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros, is pleased to announce that the 38th annual St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival will take place on Saturday, June 4th, 2022, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Dallas, Texas. Congratulations to the National Finalists from both the Junior and Senior Divisions!

 

The Oratorical Festival is a national program of the Archdiocese where Orthodox youth present a speech discussing their Orthodox faith, relationship with the Church, and Greek heritage. This year's Oratorical Festival saw a national increase in participants, despite a hiatus due to the COVID pandemic. This year the participants and their families are excited to meet in-person and represent their Metropolis for a weekend of faith and fellowship.

 

The Oratorical Festival is divided into a Junior Division (7-9th grade) and a Senior Division (10-12th grade). The program consists of four levels starting at the local parish level and ending with two representatives from each of the nine Metropolis speaking at the National Festival weekend. The National Oratorical Festival culminates with a weekend of fellowship at which the national finalists deliver their speeches.

 

Participants at the National Finals receive awards from the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival Scholarship Fund ranging from $500 to $2000, the FAITH: An Endowment for Orthodoxy and Hellenism, and the Chrysostom Scholarship Program of Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.

 

The National St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival will be live-streamed on Saturday, June 4th, beginning at 9 am MDT on: youtube.com/c/HolyTrinityGreekOrthodoxChurchDallasTexas. Save the YouTube link and follow the Oratorical Festival on Instagram @oratorical_festival and

Facebook @SJCOF.

 

The National Finalists from both the Junior and Senior Divisions are as follows:

 

JUNIOR DIVISION FINALISTS:

 

Eoanna Sarosy

Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church in Port Washington, NY

Direct Archdiocesan District

 

Victoria Carabus

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Charleston, SC
Metropolis of Atlanta

 

Helen Dunning

Saints Constantine and Helen in Webster, MA
Metropolis of Boston

 

Chris Zouras

Ascension of Our Lord in Lincolnshire, IL

Metropolis of Chicago

Maria Macesanu

St Basil the Great Greek Orthodox Church in Houston, TX

Metropolis of Denver


Elena Gore

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Nashville, TN

Metropolis of Detroit

 

Gabriella Bourantas 

St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Media, PA

Metropolis of New Jersey

 

Loukas White

Saints Constantine & Helen Cathedral in Cleveland, OH

Metropolis of Pittsburgh

 

Minas Sharp

Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Scottsdale, AZ

Metropolis of San Francisco

SENIOR DIVISION FINALISTS:

 

Ana DeBassio

St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church in Orange, CT

Direct Archdiocesan District

 

Paraskevi Christopoulos

St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Knoxville, TN

Metropolis of Atlanta


Miles Kaufman

Saint Gregory the Theologian in Mansfield, MA

Metropolis of Boston

 

Demetra Feradouras

Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Palos Hills, IL

Metropolis of Chicago

 

Labrini Panagopoulos

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Tulsa, OK

Metropolis of Denver

 

Nicholas Douglas

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Memphis, TN

Metropolis of Detroit

 

Kailah Callaham

Sts. Constantine and Helen Orthodox Church in Annapolis, MD

Metropolis of New Jersey

 

George John Papoutsis

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Camp Hill, PA

Metropolis of Pittsburgh

 

Evan Anagnostopoulos

Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church in San Bernardino, CA

Metropolis of San Francisco

 

 

Have questions or feedback? Wed love to hear from you!

toll-free: 800-566-1088  |  [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter: @goarchDRE