Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir to Perform Historic Concert in Constantinople 2013

Posted: September 7, 2013 Categories: News Author: Christos Kazilas Comment: 0

[pl_tabs][pl_tabtitlesection type=”tabs”][pl_tabtitle active=”yes” number=”1″]The Concert[/pl_tabtitle][pl_tabtitle number=”2″]Ecumenical Patriarchate[/pl_tabtitle][pl_tabtitle number=”3″]Hagia Irini[/pl_tabtitle][pl_tabtitle number=”4″] Our Choir[/pl_tabtitle][pl_tabtitle number=”5″]Sponsorship[/pl_tabtitle][/pl_tabtitlesection]
[pl_tabcontentsection][pl_tabcontent active=”yes” number=”1″]

About our Concert

All Photos by D. Panagos

The Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is preparing for their upcoming historic visit and performance in Constantinople on the occasion of the Great Feast of St. Andrew, the First-Called Apostle. This is the feast day of our beloved Ecumenical Patriarchate and so hierarchs from throughout the world will be in attendance to celebrate on this most auspicious day. At the invitation of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and with the blessing of Archbishop Demetrios of America, the Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir will perform in the ancient church of Hagia Irini which not only stands directly behind the Great Church of Hagia Sophia but was the site of the 2nd Ecumenical Council in 381AD.

It is our hope that you will take the time to explore this page and support the Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir in making its dream to travel to Constantinople a reality.

Wishing you abundant blessings from God during this New Ecclesiastical Year, I remain

Prayerfully yours in Christ,

Archdeacon Panteleimon Papadopoulos
Director, Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music

[/pl_tabcontent]

[pl_tabcontent number=”2″]
About the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople

The Ecumenical Patriarchate is the highest see and holiest center of the Orthodox Christian Church throughout the world. It is an institution with a history spanning seventeen centuries, during which it retained its see in Constantinople (present-day Istanbul). It constitutes the center of all the local Orthodox Churches, heading these not by administration but by virtue of its primacy in the ministry of pan-Orthodox unity and the coordination of the activity of the whole of Orthodoxy.

The function of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as center par excellence of the life of the entire Orthodox world emanates from its centuries-old ministry in the witness, protection and outreach of the Orthodox faith. The Ecumenical Patriarchate therefore possesses a supra-national and supra-regional character. From this lofty consciousness and responsibility for the people of Christ, regardless of race and language, were born the new regional Churches of the East, from the Caspian to the Baltic, and from the Balkans to Central Europe. This activity today extends to the Far East, to America and Australia.

Orthodox Christians on all continents, which do not fall under the jurisdiction of the autocephalous (independent) or autonomous (semi-independent) Churches, fall under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The most important of the autocephalous Churches are the ancient Patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem (together with the ancient Archdiocese of Mt. Sinai), the Patriarchates of Russia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria and Georgia, as well as the Churches of Cyprus, Greece, Poland, Albania, and the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia. The Autonomous Churches include those of Finland and of Estonia. Consequently, the Orthodox Churches in Europe, America, Australia and Britain, which are not under the jurisdiction of the aforementioned autocephalous Churches, lie within the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. All Orthodox feel that they are constituents of one essentially spiritual community, wherein “when one member suffers, so do all.” It is a true sense of unity in diversity.

For more information about the Ecumenical Patriarchate click here.

[/pl_tabcontent]

[pl_tabcontent number=”3″]

About Hagia Irini

Naming

The church was dedicated by Constantine to the peace of God, and is one of the three shrines which the Emperor devoted to God’s attributes, together with Hagia Sophia (Wisdom) and Hagia Dynamis (Force). It is also one of the Byzantine Churches that has never been converted into a mosque.

Church

The building reputedly stands on the site of a pre-Christian temple. It ranks, in fact, as the first church built in Constantinople. Roman emperor Constantine I commissioned the first Hagia Irene church in the 4th century. From May to July 381 the First Council of Constantinople took place in the church. It was burned down during the Nika revolt in 532. Emperor Justinian I had the church restored in 548. It served as the church of the Patriarchate before Hagia Sophia was completed in 360.

Heavily damaged by an earthquake in the 8th century, it dates in its present form largely from the repairs made at that time. The Emperor Constantine V ordered the restorations and had its interior decorated with mosaics and frescoes. Hagia Irene is the only example of a Byzantine church in the city which retains its original atrium. A great cross in the half-dome above the main narthex, where the image of the Pantocrator or Theotokos was usually placed in Byzantine tradition, is a unique vestige of the Iconoclastic art; presumably it replaced earlier decoration. The church was enlarged during the 11th and 12th centuries.

The church measures 100 m × 32 m. It has the typical form of a Roman basilica, consisting of a nave and two aisles, divided by columns and pillars. It comprises a main space, a narthex, galleries and an atrium. The dome is 15m wide and 35m high and has twenty windows.

Arsenal

After the conquest of Constantinople in 1453 by Mehmed II, the church was enclosed inside the walls of the Topkapi palace. The Janissaries used the church as an armoury. It was also used as a warehouse for war booty. During the reign of Sultan Ahmet III (1703–1730) it was converted into a weapons museum.

In 1846, Marshal of the Imperial Arsenal, Ahmed Fethi Paşa, made the church into a military antiques museum.[3] It was used as the Military Museum from 1908 until 1978 when it was turned over to the Ministry of Culture.

Concert Hall

Today, the museum serves mainly as a concert hall for classical music performances, due to its extraordinary acoustic characteristics and impressive atmosphere.

[/pl_tabcontent]

[pl_tabcontent number=”4″]

Our Choir

The Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir

Shortly after the formation of the Archdiocesan School of Music in October 2010, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America expressed a desire for the formation of a choir to promote the rich Byzantine musical heritage of the Orthodox Church. The Archbishop’s vision became a reality under the leadership and organiation of Archdeacon Panteleimon Papadopoulos who observed the musical talent of chanters in the Direct Archdiocesan District and established the Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir in December 2010 as a ministry of the Archdiocese.

The talented members of the choir consist of Greek American clergy and young men whose ages range from 16 to 40. The majority of the choir members are established head-chanters (protopsaltis) in churches from within the Direct Archdiocesan District. All members of the choir have had formal training in Byzantine Music while some have even received advanced degrees in Byzantine Music from conservatories in Athens and Thessaloniki.

The choir enjoys a broad programmatic reputation and ecclesiastical repertoire with performances in various venues such as universities, churches and recital halls of NYC. Its primary mission is to share the beauty of Byzantine Music beyond the borders of Orthodox Churches and reveal the spiritual depth of this ancient form of ecclesiastical chant.

Since its inception, the choir has been directed by Demetrios Kehagias. Born in Queens NY, Mr. Kehagias began studying Byzantine Music at the age of 14 under the tutelage of Archon Protopsaltis of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Mr. Nikolaos Steliaros. Among his top students in musical theory and application, Mr. Kehagias advanced swiftly and, at age 20, obtained the Certificate of Chant with highest distinction from the National Conservatory of Athens.

Thereafter, Mr. Kehagias was appointed Protopsaltis at St. Demetrios Cathedral of Astoria, NY, the largest Greek community outside of Greece, where he served for 10 years. In 2009, he received the advanced degree of Byzantine Music Teaching (Diploma Mousikodidaskalou) with highest distinction from the National Conservatory of Athens. Mr. Kehagias also has a firm knowledge of western music, having studied jazz and composition at Long Island University in Brooklyn, NY.

Members of the Archdiocesan Byzantine and Youth Choirs with Archbishop Demetrios of America following their performance at Carnegie Hall in December 2012.

In October 2010, Archbishop Demetrios of America appointed Mr. Kehagias first instructor for the newly established Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music. He currently serves as Protopsaltis at the Kimisis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church, Brooklyn, NY. His dedication to teaching Byzantine Music and his vision to find creative ways to share Byzantine Music to the general public have led this choir to a level of excellence demonstrated by their concerts and in the presentation of the choir as seasoned performers.

The choir has grown significantly in reputation, becoming a premier Byzantine Music choir in the New York Metropolitan area as well as among Greek American communities. The choir’s goals are to provide a positive social setting based on the Orthodox Faith, to help the members of the choir achieve excellence in musical performance and to provide them with the rewards of participation in the choral arts. Committed to musical excellence, the choir gives talented young chanters the opportunity to share the treasure of Byzantine Music with all people.

The Choir’s dedication to musical excellence and broad range of musical presentation has resulted in unique concerts even though it has only been in existence for less than a year. The following are some of the choir’s special performances:

2010 December Debut performance at Fairfield University as part of a lecture series on Orthodox Theology.

2011 January Annual Three Hierarchs Greek Letters Celebration organized by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, NYC.

2011 April Invited by the Consul General of Greece in New York, H.E. Agi Balta, to chant for the inauguration of an exhibition of paintings by George Lelekopoulos on the Passion and Resurrection of Christ.

2011 May First Paschal Concert entitled “Arise, O Lord” at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, NYC.

2011 September Performed as part of an inter-religious call to prayer for a special commemoration on the 10^th Anniversary of September 11^th organized by St. John the Divine Cathedral in NYC.

2011 October First Washington OXI Day Foundation Doxology in commemoration of October 28^th, 1941, at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Washington DC.

2011 December Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Concert entitled “ASMA KAINON (A New Song): Chant of the Greek Orthodox Church.”

2012 January Annual Three Hierarchs Greek Letters Celebration organized by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America at the Onassis Center USA in mid-town New York.

2012 March Invited to perform at the 100 year anniversary celebration from the establishment of the Panchiaki “Korais” Society of New York in St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Flushing, NY.

2012 March Invited to perform two mini-concerts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the Byzantium and Islam Family Day celebrations.

2012 June Concert hosted at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity entitled, “We Have Seen the Light.”

2012 September Invited to perform with the St. Romanos Choir of the Archdiocese of Beirut in St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn, NY.

2012 December Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall. Concert entitled, “Glory in the Highest.”

2013 May Concert in honor of Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece entitled, “He is Risen!” at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, NYC.

All photos by D. Panagos. [/pl_tabcontent]

[pl_tabcontent number=”5″][gravityform id=”6″ name=”Trip to Constantinople 2013″][/pl_tabcontent][/pl_tabcontentsection][/pl_tabs]

Carnegie Hall Concert, Dec 16

Posted: November 12, 2012 Categories: News Author: Christos Kazilas Comment: 0

[pl_tabs][pl_tabtitlesection type=”tabs”][pl_tabtitle active=”yes” number=”1″]About the Concert[/pl_tabtitle][pl_tabtitle number=”2″]Location[/pl_tabtitle][pl_tabtitle number=”3″]Video about the Church[/pl_tabtitle][pl_tabtitle number=”4″]Buy Tickets[/pl_tabtitle][pl_tabtitle number=”5″]Donate[/pl_tabtitle][/pl_tabtitlesection]
[pl_tabcontentsection][pl_tabcontent active=”yes” number=”1″]
About our Concert…

On behalf of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, I would like to invite you to attend this year’s Christmas concert at Carnegie Hall entitled, Glory in the Highest. It was the holy angels who appeared to the shepherds on Christmas day and proclaimed, Glory to God in the highest for the remarkable event of our Savior’s birth. On December 16 at 6PM, the Archdiocesan Byzantine and Youth Choirs of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese will join their voices to those of the angels in singing praises to God and offering Him thanksgiving for His Son’s birth.

But this concert will serve an additional purpose. We hope to combine the spirit and excitement of this Christmas concert with the important effort of our beloved Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to reopen the ancient church of the Holy Archangels in Siyi, Turkey. We hope that the doxology offered by the shepherds on Christmas day may again be heard as it was for centuries by the faithful in this ancient church of the Holy Archangels. This is why all the proceeds from this concert will be offered to assist in this noble cause.

The church of the Holy Archangels, or as it is known in Greek, the Taxiarches, was built in the 8th century and is located in the town of Siyi, Turkey in the Metropolis of Proussa. The church of the Taxiarches is an important church of the Metropolis of Proussa, given that it is among the oldest ones still standing in this eparchy. During the exchange of populations at the turn of the 20th century the Turkish government confiscated this church and rendered it closed to the faithful. Now, almost 100 years later, our beloved Ecumenical Patriarch is diligently working, with the help of the local metropolitan, to reopen it as a house of worship. By attending this concert you will help make this sacred endeavor a reality.

The concert program will feature a selection of ecclesiastical hymns from the Christmas period performed by the Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir in Greek. The Archdiocesan Youth Choir will perform a number of traditional Christmas songs and Greek Kalanda to joyfully usher in the holiday season. This is the second time the Archdiocesan choirs are sharing a stage at Carnegie Hall. This evening is sure to be a most memorable one and I hope that you will keep our choirs and the ancient church of the Holy Archangels close to your hearts.

Conveying to you His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios’ warmest prayers and blessings for a joyous Christmas, I remain

With deepest gratitude,

Archdeacon Panteleimon Papadopoulos

Director, Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music
[/pl_tabcontent]

[pl_tabcontent number=”2″]About Zankel Hall

57th Street and Seventh Avenue, New York City

Zankel Hall, the newest of Carnegie Hall’s three auditoriums, occupies a space that had previously suffered something of an identity crisis. Underneath the main hall, architect Tuthill had designed a 1,200 seat recital hall where German pianist Franz Rummel performed on April 1, 1891—a little more than a month before the official opening night in the main hall on May 5.

In 1896, this mid-size venue was configured as the 800-seat Carnegie Lyceum; for the next six decades, the American Academy of Dramatic Arts used it for occasional musical performances, but mostly for dramatic productions that included young stars-to-be Anne Bancroft, Grace Kelly, Jason Robards, and Spencer Tracy.

Carnegie Lyceum became a movie house in 1952 and served as an off-Broadway theater until 1961, when it was converted yet again to a cinema. In 1997, the process to reclaim the space for its original purpose as a performance venue began, and two years later ground was broken on Zankel Hall, a versatile 599-seat auditorium, with alternate stage configurations of different capacities. Zankel Hall opened in 2003 and is named in honor of the generosity of the late Carnegie Hall Vice Chairman Arthur Zankel and his wife, Judy. Today, Carnegie Hall presents the finest world, jazz, and folk musicians at Zankel Hall in addition to innovative new concert music and outstanding chamber ensembles.[/pl_tabcontent]
[pl_tabcontent number=”3″]

Enter the password: white-fox

The church of the Holy Archangels, or as it is known in Greek, the Taxiarches, was built in the 8th century and is located in the town of Siyi, Turkey in the ancient Metropolis of Proussa. The church of the Taxiarches is an important church of the Metropolis of Proussa, given that it is among the oldest ones still standing in this eparchy. During the exchange of populations at the turn of the 20th century, this church was confiscated by the Turkish government. Now, almost 100 years later, our beloved Ecumenical Patriarchate is in a position to purchase this ancient church and reopen it as a house of worship for all of her faithful. By attending the concert, or by making a contribution, you are helping this sacred endeavor become a reality.

[/pl_tabcontent]
[pl_tabcontent number=”4″]You are all cordially invited to join us on December 16 for an unforgettable evening of glorious Christmas music for a most noble cause.

Purchase tickets through Carnegie Hall: [pl_button type=”success” link=”http://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2012/12/16/0600/PM/Archdiocesan-Youth-Choir-Archdiocesan-Byzantine-Choir/?fb_action_ids=529896697039947&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582″ target=”blank”]Buy your ticket[/pl_button]

If you are unable to attend, but are still interested in making a donation, kindly make your checks payable to:
GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE

In the Memo write: ASBM: Taxiarches Church

Send checks to:
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
C/O Archdeacon Panteleimon Papadopoulos
8 East 79th Street
New York, NY 10075

For further information, call 212-570-3590.[/pl_tabcontent]
[pl_tabcontent number=”5″][gravityform id=”2″ name=”Make a Donation”][/pl_tabcontent][/pl_tabcontentsection][/pl_tabs]

Glory in the Highest – Carnegie Hall 2012

Posted: October 12, 2012 Categories: Concerts Author: Christos Kazilas Comment: 0

Dear Friends,

It is with great joy that the Archdiocesan Byzantine and Youth Choirs will again share the stage at Carnegie Hall for a Christmas concert to benefit an 8th century Church in the historic Metropolis of Proussa. We were thrilled to have you with us at last year’s concert and wanted to take this opportunity to invite you back for another unforgettable evening of music.
More details are forthcoming but please mark your calendars today!

DECEMBER 16, 2012 @ 6PM Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall.
Visit the Carnegie Hall website after October 16, 2012 to buy your tickets and get more information about this unique event. Just click on the event poster below.

Respectfully,
ASBM Staff

LOCATION:
Carnegie Hall, 57th Street and Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019

The Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music completes second year of operation

Posted: September 7, 2012 Categories: News Author: Christos Kazilas Comment: 0

New York– The Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music completed its second year of operation off with a concert at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity on June 16, entitled, “We Have Seen the Light.”

With over 300 people in attendance the Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir performed a number of ecclesiastical hymns drawn from the rich liturgical tradition of the Orthodox Church. A world premiere of a musical composition in honor of Archbishop Demetrios of America which was composed by Dr. Grammenos Karanos, Assistant Professor of Byzantine Music at Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, was also performed. The composition was based entirely on St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians 2:1-13. Those in attendance particularly enjoyed the exquisite performance by a select number of the youngest students enlisted in ASBM. The evening finished with the Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir performing a selection of Greek folksongs. A reception followed for everyone who attended the concert in the Cathedral Hall. The entire concert can be viewed online at www.asbm.goarch.org.

ASBM welcomed this year 37 students through her doors. The school undertook a number of projects at the end of last year in order to facilitate the students for this year. One major project was that ASBM produced its first publication entitled, “The Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music: Theory and Practice Guide.” This completely color book which also included an audio CD with the all the musical examples used in the book did not only prove decisive for the students of ASBM but more than 1,000 copies of the book were purchased nationally and international—even as far as China and Pakistan! The school’s administration, however, did not stop there. In the technological world that exist today, the book was digitized and is now available in an eBooks version available through iTunes. The eBook format has all the audio files embedded within so that with the use of simple headphones one can listen and learn practically anywhere (visit …. To order your digital version). Archdeacon Panteleimon Papadopoulos, Director of ASBM, remarked, “I am very proud of the hard work that our administration has put into producing, with the grace of God, this new book. It has been enthusiastically received throughout this country and internationally. It is strong affirmation that the beauty of our ecclesiastical musical heritage is a treasure that more and more people are gaining an appreciation for. I wholeheartedly congratulation the book’s two authors, the Rev. Dn. Aristidis Garinis and Dr. Demetrios Kehagias as well as all those who contributed to its publication. God has indeed blessed their labor of love abundantly.” With the academic oversight of Dr. Grammenos Karanos, professor of Byzantine Music at Hellenic College and Holy Cross, the book is also current with the terminology used throughout the Byzantine musicological world and has been established as the official textbook for incoming students at Hellenic College and Holy Cross.

Additionally, ASBM is currently completing the production of a revolutionary interactive DVD for the learning of Byzantine Music which they hope to release this fall. This totally interactive DVD will teach Byzantine Music in the Rosetta-Stone style making learning fun and fast for students of all ages. Archdeacon Panteleimon also commented, “I wholeheartedly thank Rev. Dn. Aristidis Garinis and Professor Karanos for their outstanding cooperation and creative vision for making this DVD a reality. I believe it marks a historic moment in the history of learning and teaching Byzantine Music.”Among the other items that have continued to grow from ASBM is the Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir (ABC). This choir has been an outgrowth of ASBM and serves not only as vehicle to promote the beauty of Byzantine Music to the general public but also offers ASBM students the incentive to continue to work hard in learning Byzantine music since they too will enjoy being members of the choir in due time. In fact, already 6 students of ASBM are members of the choir! ABC is primarily comprised of established chanters from throughout the Direct Archdiocesan District who have studied Byzantine music and have received advanced degrees in the music. The choir, in less than two years, has already performed at very prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall in NYC, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC and other universities and institutions. It is the hope of ABC to continue to expand its public promotion of Byzantine Music. The choir just produced a CD in honor of Archbishop Demetrios of America which can be purchased through iTunes. Coming this December 2012, ABC will be back at Carnegie Hall for an end of the year Christmas concert.

For more information, or for the purchase of resources produced by the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music and or the Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir, please visit www.asbm.goarch.org.

ASBM First Concert and Fundraiser

Posted: May 8, 2011 Categories: News Author: Christos Kazilas Comment: 0

Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir : May 8 2010

Under the Byzantine dome of the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York City, and in the presence of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, the newly formed Archdiocesan Byzantine Choir performed its first ever concert entitled, Arise O Lord. The concert was organized by the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music (ASBM) which was established in October of 2010.

The concert’s central theme was the Resurrection of Christ, featuring a 21 member choir consisting of chanters from the New York area and from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA under the direction of Mr. Demetrios Kehagias. In addition, a performance by the four youngest students enrolled in the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music ages 6, 8, 9, and 10 surprised the audience with their musical talent as they chanted a musical text in solfege fashion (paralagi), as well as with words (melos) in Greek. The concert concluded with a United States premier of the Gospel reading from the Agape Vespers of Pascha chanted in Homeric Greek.

In his opening remarks, Archdeacon Panteleimon Papadopoulos, Director of ASBM, said, “The Holy Bible again and again indicates to us the importance of music in liturgical worship. The Nativity narrative in the Gospel of Luke paints for us the image of angels praising and worshiping the incarnated Christ while chanting, ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men in whom He is well pleased.’ Thus, at Christ’s incarnation the angels worship God using music!” Archdeacon Panteleimon continued, “we have taken seriously our Archbishop’s theme from the past Clergy-Laity assembly to Gather God’s people to His Home and to Come and See. When our faithful Come and See, their experience of worship is also impacted by what they hear. Archdeacon Panteleimon finished by asking, “what do our people hear when they enter our churches?” This question was the impetus behind the establishment of the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music and as a new ministry of the Archdiocese has as its mission to teach Byzantine Music in order to enhance the musical ministry within our churches.

At the conclusion of the concert, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios thanked the choir and the four young students of ASBM for a remarkable performance. He continued by stating, “the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music will play a decisive role in enhancing the musical ministry within our parishes.” His Eminence further commented, “Byzantine Music has been the liturgical music of the Eastern Orthodox Church for centuries and this concert is one more example of the timeless beauty and solemnity of this ageless ecclesiastical chant. I also extend my congratulations to the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music for organizing this concert. This school represents a wonderful response to the ever-growing need to educate our faithful, and especially our youth, of the importance place music holds in the worship of the Church. Through the efforts of the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music, Byzantine Music will not only be preserved in our Greek Orthodox parishes, but promoted and shared with the local non-orthodox community.”

There were 240 people that attended the concert and over 500 more who watched the live broadcast over the Internet. A reception for all attendees was offered in the Cathedral Hall where people were given the opportunity to support, through donations, the Archdiocesan School of Byzantine Music. The event raised $25,000 towards this new Ministry of our Greek Orthodox Archdiocese through another grant of $10,000 from the Kallinikeion Foundation and $10,000 from Mr. Demetiros and Georgia Kaloidis.

Archbishop Demetrios of America with Mr. and Mrs. Demetrios and Georgia Kaloidis and Archdeacon Panteleimon.

Kallinikeion Grants $10,000 to ASBM

Posted: October 17, 2010 Categories: News Author: Christos Kazilas Comment: 0

(From left to right: Rev. Father Robert Stephanopoulos, Emanuel G. Demos, Archdeacon Panteleimon Papadopoulos, and Helen Moneo)

Following a meeting with the Board of Trustees of the Kallinikeion Foundation at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity on Sunday, October 17, 2010, Archdeacon Panteleimon Papadopoulos, ASBM Director, expressed his deepest gratitude to all the members of the Board of Trustees for their $10,000 grant to ASBM and for their support and confidence in the mission of the school. The Archdeacon commented that, “with this grant the mission of ASBM begins to be realized and the foundation laid for our vast spiritual and musical heritage to bear fruit for the growth and advancement of Orthodoxy and Hellenism in America.” He added, “in this manner ASBM will pay worthy tribute to the memory of Alexandra Kallin, a devout and dedicated handmaiden of God who loved the Greek language and Byzantine Music.”

The grant was given in order to support the school’s mission to train and inspire future Byzantine Chanters and to enrich the liturgical life of the Direct Archdiocesan District. The Board of Trustees in attendance were: Emanuel G. Demos-President, Helen Moneo-Vice President, Helen Hadjiyannakis Bender-Secretary, George S. Tsandikos-Treasurer, Rev. Robert Stephanopoulos, and Froso Beys.