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Orthodox Observer - July 1997
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ARCHBISHOP SPYRIDON with partic- ipants in the junior and senior divi- sions of the National Oratorical Festi- val, host clergy and co-chairmen. (Photo by Natalie Kulukundis) NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — Twenty exuberant teen-agers representing the best of each diocese and the Metropolis of Toronto enlightened a large audience with their discourses at the 14th annual St. John Chrysostom National Oratorical Festival held at Holy Trinity Church. Ten young people in both the Junior and Senior divisions presented their sincerest thoughts on a variety of topics about the Orthodox faith. Their 4-minute talks focused on subjects relating to the teachings of the Lord's Prayer, the Church's feast days, the Ten Commandments, the significance of icons, and others. Audience members included Archbishop Spyridon. Addressing the participants at one point, His Eminence told them, "We love you, not because you're young, but because, despite your youth, you are full members of the Church, united through the bond of love." He also emphasized the importance of participation in the Eucharist in the life of the Church. "The Eucharist is the only way to be a member of the Church," the Archbishop said. "It is the center of the Church, the mystery of the Church. It is precisely the Eucharist that transforms us from an assembly of people into the Orthodox Church. Speaking on the importance of religious education, Archbishop Spyridon told the young people "Your church will do everything possible to strengthen its religious education programs. The future of our Church depends on the religious education we will provide our people." The Archbishop also presented a plaque to Mr. Ernest Villas, retired director of the Department of Religious Education, for his role in establishing and continuing the Oratorical Festival over the years. The young speakers were evaluated by a three-judge panel comprised of Ernie Anastos, an Emmy award winning co-anchor of local TV channel 9 of the United Paramount News network, and a Sunday School teacher for 15 years at Holy Trinity; Dr. John H. Erickson, associate dean for academic affairs and associate professor of canon law and Church history at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary; and Dr. Chrysanthy M. Grieco, chairman of the English Department at Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J. Top winners were Katherine Katsanis of St. Spyridon Church, San Diego, Calif., in the senior division, and Peter Zimmar of Church of Our Savior in Rye, N.Y., junior. Miss Katsanis' topic was "In this age of science and technology, how can we accept the reality of miracles?" Zimmar spoke on "the Bible passage about living a Christ-centered life that has influenced him the most." The other Junior Division speakers were: Sandy Georgakakis, St. Nicholas Cathedral, Tarpon Springs, Fla.; Maria Varmazis, Holy Transfiguration Church, Lowell, Mass.; Nicole Pelligrino, St. Demetrios Church, Hammond, Ind.; Mary Lambrakos, Annunciation Cathedral, Houston; Alice Marie Shukla, Holy Cross Church, Farmington Hills, Mich.; George Psomas, St. Nicholas Church, Wyckoff, N.J.; Christina Grace Phillips, Annunciation Church, Lancaster, Pa.; Alexis Boerger, St. Katherine Church, Redondo Beach, Calif.; and Toula Gonedalles, Prophet Elias Church, Missassauga, Ontario. Senior Division speakers were Lucy Montalvo, St. Nicholas Church, West Babylon, N.Y.; Maria Eleni Kiehling, Holy Trinity Church, Charleston, S.C.; Daphne Vlahou-DiMeo, St. Demetrios Church, Weston, Mass.; Eftychia Gouvas, Assumption Church, Chicago; Dean Papaliodis, St. John the Baptist Church, Euless, Texas; Anna Ruth Munk, Holy Trinity Church, Lansing, Mich.; Leslye Morton, Sts. Constantine and Helen Church, Richmond, Va.; Eleni Christine Kalorides, Holy Trinity Church, Canton, Ohio; and Aspasia Papatheodorou, Sts. Constantine and Helen Church, Toronto. In addition to Holy Trinity Church in New Rochelle, host parishes were Zoodochos Peghe in the Bronx, and Church of Our Savior in Rye.
[ Orthodox Observer, Vol. 62 - No. 1131, July 1997, p. 3, 26 ]
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