The Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir was honored to perform at the Centennial Reception of the 46^th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress in New York.  The event was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and was also part of the Centennial Celebration of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

This unique concert was the result of extensive collaboration between the Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir and the National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians. The conductors of each choir worked together to develop a music program that would showcase the repertoire of each choir individually.  For the finale, the choirs were combined to perform The Great Doxology (Grave Mode enharmonic) and The Great Prokeimenon (Grave Mode enharmonic).

The concert was introduced by the Rev. Fr. Romanos Karanos, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Byzantine Liturgical Music at Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA. Fr. Romanos provided a brief overview of Ecclesiastical Music in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America over its 100-year history and noted that the Ecclesiastical Music of today has its origins dating back to the first millennium.

At the conclusion of the program, His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros recognized Georgios Theodoridis, Conductor of the Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir, as a “Centennial Honoree” for his tireless work as the Director of the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music and his devotion to the Psaltic Art.

The pieces performed by the Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir are listed below:

1. Gladsome Light, Mode 2^nd
2. I Will Come Into Your House, Mode pl. 4^th
3. Prokeimenon on Wednesdays, Mode pl. 1^st
4. A Good Word with kratema, Mode 4^th aghia
5. It is Truly Right, Constantinopolitan, Mode pl. 1^st
6. I Will Love You, O Lord, Mode 2^nd
7. I Will Bless the Lord with kratema, Mode pl. 1^st
8. Lord, Have Mercy, “Pentaehon” (in five Modes)

The Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir would like to acknowledge and thank its participants from the Centennial Concert (roster listed below). The choir was directed by Georgios Theodoridis, Archon Music Instructor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and Director of the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music.

Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir Roster for the Centennial Concert, “From Byzantium to America”:

Nektarios Antoniou, Protopsaltis

Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New York, NY

John Brakatselos, Psaltis

Church of the Holy Resurrection, Brookville, NY

Theodore Brakatselos, Psaltis

Church of the Holy Resurrection, Brookville NY

Philip Carallo, Protopsaltis

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Tarpon Springs, FL

Ian Chambers, Psaltis

Greek Orthodox Church of Our Savior, Rye, NY

Yianni Cote, Psaltis

St. Basil Chapel, Garrison, NY

Antonios Gementzopoulos, Psaltis

St. Theodore Greek Orthodox Church, Lanham, MD

Nick Giannoukakis, Protopsaltis

Metropolis of Pittsburg

Philippos Gurguliatos, Psaltis

Annunciation Cathedral, Boston, MA

Rick Hanson, Psaltis

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Fort Wayne, IN

Samuel Herron, Protopsaltis & Choir Director

Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Scottsdale, AZ

Elias Hilaneh, Psaltis

St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, Tuscon, AZ

Isaac Hilaneh, Psaltis

St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, Tuscon, AZ

Rev. Fr. Andreas Houpos, Proistamenos

St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church, Charlotte, NC

Rev. Fr. Romanos Karanos, Proistamenos

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Brockton, MA

Vasileios Karanos, Psaltis

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Brockton, MA

Dimitrios Katsiklis, Protopsaltis

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church & National Shrine, New York, NY

Elias Katsiklis, Psaltis

St.Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church & National Shrine, New York, NY

Rev. Fr. Theofanis Katsiklils, Assistant Priest

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Tarpon Springs, FL

Constantine Kokenes, Psaltis

St. Philothea Greek Orthodox Church, Watkinsville, GA

Yianni Mavrogiannis, Psaltis

Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Paul, Hempstead, NY

Spyros Perivolaris, Lampadarios

St. Constantine Greek Orthodox Church, Kolonos, Athens, Greece

George Rallis, Protopsaltis & Choir Director

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Asheville, NC

Michael Rallis, Protopsaltis & Choir Director

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Wilmington NC

Nicholas Roumas, Psaltis

Sts. Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church, Marlboro, MA

Rev. Fr. Neofitos Sarigiannis, Proistamenos

St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Schenectady, NY

Michael Sellas, Psaltis

Holy Apostles Orthodox Church, Bowling Green, KY

Aris Spirtos, Protopsaltis

Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church of Washington DC, Silver Spring, MD

Christos Stavropoulos, Protopsaltis

Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, New York, NY

Georgios Theodoridis, Protopsaltis & Choir Director

Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Washington, DC

James Tsimis, Psaltis

Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Paul, Hempstead, NY

Ioannis Tziligkakis, Psaltis

Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, New York, NY