I used to be fearful of pruning my rose bushes, wanting them to have full freedom to grow any which way they would. I didn’t want to be like a highly caffeinated hairdresser lopping off more than enough inches, leading to something that looked like a shearing rather than a trim. ‘Don’t be afraid to prune’ gardening experts say, “pruning leads to new growth and continued blooming”.
Read MoreAboutPrune Your Soul »

To say social media is ubiquitous (for good or for ill) might be the greatest understatement ever - there are 1.2 billion Facebook users alone. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, SnapChat...
Read MoreAboutSOCIAL MEDIA AND PARISH OUTREACH »

Working in the Church isn't easy. Neither is working in Pawnee. Here are 4 things I Steve learned from Leslie Knope.
Read MoreAbout4 Things Leslie Knope Taught Me About Church Work »

  Similar to many first-time Oratorical Festival Teens, Demetra Ganias Soterakis decided to participate in the event alongside friends and classmates because it was an annual Sunday...
Read MoreAboutMeet Demetra Ganias Soterakis: An Oratorical Teen turned News Anchor and Mom »

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) was established on June 21st, 1946 to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment . The Commission, supported by UN Women , establishes...
Read MoreAboutWomen Who Bloom: The Intersection of CSW63 & Women in the Church »

Palm Sunday is fast approaching. Our churches will once again be filled with the faithful we love, but don’t see as often as we would like. Our first inclination may be to scold or at least lay on...
Read MoreAboutPALM SUNDAY -- MAKE THEM WANT TO COME BACK! »

A look at two kinds of compunction, and what they both mean for our spiritual lives.
Read MoreAboutTowards Compunction: Opening Our Hearts to the Grace of God »

Stewardship Ministries of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese has developed parish resources for Planned Giving to assist the faithful in their estate planning and end-of-life concerns while...
Read MoreAboutPLANNED GIVING RESOURCES FOR YOUR PARISH »

You’ve written your Oratorical speech using our five preparation tips. But writing is just one part of making a great speech, now you have to present it in front of an audience. If you’re nervous, that’s completely normal. Everyone gets nervous about public speaking. But with practice (in front of a mirror or other people), you will build up your confidence. And if you learn to use your charisma, you can be interesting and persuasive when sharing your message with the world. Here are some speaking strategies that will help you give an effective speech
Read MoreAboutPresenting Your Speech with Confidence and Charisma »

  In the fall of 1983 -- the very first year of the Oratorical Festival -- Mike Emanuel’s parish priest, Father Alexander Leondis encouraged all the GOYAns to participate in the...
Read MoreAboutMeet Mike Emanuel: An Oratorical Teen turned Political Correspondent »

A free new Bible Study resource for the Triodion Period (the Sunday of the Publican & Pharisee through Holy Saturday).
Read MoreAboutFree "Live the Word" Bible Study Guide for the Triodion »

So, your Sunday School teacher, parent, Godparent, or friend told you about the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival. After some consideration, you are leaning towards trying it. Besides getting up in front of an audience to present your speech, one other thing is holding you back...actually writing a speech. While this might be your first time writing a speech, this skill is something that you’ll use throughout your life. Learning it now will help you in the future.
Read MoreAbout5 Tips on Preparing Your Speech »

In 1996, George Psomas stepped up to the podium for the first time as a Junior Division participant at the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival. Now, he is a professional actor in New York City who was in the 2015 Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof, and the 2008 Broadway production of South Pacific. George took part in the Tony Awards and the NBC Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. He recently won Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role for his portrayal of Fidel Castro in the new musical Errol and Fidel with the New York Musical Theatre Festival.
Read MoreAboutMeet George Psomas: An Oratorical Teen turned Professional Actor »

OUTREACH & EVANGELISM Report from a Home Mission Parish  A Recipient of the Leadership 100 Home Mission Parish Grant It’s our privilege to apply for and administer a...
Read MoreAboutREPORT FROM A HOME MISSION PARISH »

Introduced in 1983, the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival provides Greek Orthodox teenagers the opportunity to write and talk about their faith. Over 200 parishes and 1,000 participants take part in the festival each year. As with any church program, our goal is to always increase participation and keep people interested in the event year after year. With that in mind, we wanted to provide you, the chairperson, a few tips you can utilize to market the Oratorical Festival in your parish.
Read MoreAboutHow to Market the Oratorical Festival »

Never has such a sensitive question agitated the religious landscape of Europe, and of the world at large, as this: how is humanity saved? In this debate, which in the 16th century deeply marked the religious and political scene of the European continent by opening the bloody chapter of the wars of religion, Orthodox Christianity has been little exposed for various reasons.
Read MoreAboutOrthodox view on the Lutheran-Catholic Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification »

Stewardship is often reduced to the "three Ts" (time, talent and treasure) which is an acceptable, though tactical, explanation of what we Orthodox Christians do after saying 'we believe.'...
Read MoreAboutSTEWARDS OF THE FAITH »

Sunday is a high holy day. No, it is not Christmas or Pascha. Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday, a major feast day for those who follow the religion called football. Sarcasm aside, I wonder if there are a few parallels between the religion of football and the religion of Christianity.
Read MoreAboutSuper Bowl Sunday »

As the daughter of Presvytera Margaret Orfanakos and Fr. John Orfanakos – the former national chairpersons of the National Oratorical Festival from 1986 through 2018 – I am a passionate advocate for the program. I like to say that I grew up attending Oratorical Festivals the way other kids my age attended baseball games. With the repose of my dear parents, I am honored to be stepping into their shoes and serving as the National Oratorical Festival chairperson. Together with my niece, Stephanie Orfanakos, we plan to create a regular blog presence for the Oratorical Festival on this site – where you can see what former participants are up to today and get expert advice from former participants and parish, district and metropolis chairpersons.
Read MoreAboutHow the Oratorical Festival can help your children become active learners in their Orthodox faith »

  Fr. John Touloumes arrived at Holy Trinity in August 1993 with a mandate from then Bishop (later Metropolitan) Maximos: Transition the parish of almost 200 families from dues to...
Read MoreAboutTRANSFORMING THE HEART OF A COMMUNITY: from Dues to Stewardship »

The second of a three-part series: Exodus from Orthodoxy.
Read MoreAboutExodus from Orthodoxy, Part II: The Three Big Challenges of Young Adulthood »

The first of a three-part series: Exodus from Orthodoxy.
Read MoreAboutExodus from Orthodoxy, Part I: Are Young Adults Leaving the Church (and What Can We Do About It)? »

Is a donation kiosk right for your parish? In a recent study of church giving conducted between 2015 and 2017, the traditional methods of donating (cash and check) are declining whereas...
Read MoreAboutKIOSK CONVENIENCE INCREASES STEWARDSHIP »

Steve highlights 4 organizations that are helping the Church refocus on Christ and His Kingdom.
Read MoreAbout4 Organizations that are Changing the Face of Ministry »

How can we more intentionally recognize Christ in our midst in every nook and cranny of family life?
Read MoreAboutA Delightful Surprise »