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Federation Members Receive 2008 Archangel Michael Award
Congratulations to the musicians of our Federation who received the Archangel Michael Award presented by His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios at the awards banquet in Atlanta on Saturday November 8, 2008. The 2008 musicians were:
South Florida Conference: Constance Kosiara, Choir Member, Fort Myers, FL;
Costas Papandreopoulos, Choir Director, Fort Pierce, FL; Thespo G. Portafekas, Choir Member, Miami, FL; Electra V. Spillis, Choir Member, Miami (Kendall), FL.
North Florida Conference: Dialekti Pappas, Choir Organist, Jacksonville, FL;
Efstratios Komon, Choir Member, Melbourne, FL;
Western Conference: Lia Roussos Tsounis, Youth Choir Director, Mobile, AL;
Chris Charalambous, Chanter, Baton Rouge, LA; Michael Yatsko, Chanter, Panama City, FL; Sarah Elizabeth Hunt, Choir Member / Chanter, Fort Walton Beach, FL.
Central Conference: Presbytera Christine Salzman, Choir Member, Athens, GA;
John Sophocleus, Choir Member, Columbus, GA; Evangeline Becky Butler, Choir Member, Peachtree City, GA; Douglas Cumuze, Jr., Choir Member, Montgomery, AL.
Coastal Conference: Aphrodite Stevens Pappas, Choir Member, Charleston, SC;
Alexia Zecopoulos, Youth Choir Member, Charleston, SC; Sophia Athans Costas, Choir Member, Florence, SC.
North East Conference: John G. Peroulas, Chanter, Charlotte, NC; John Stonestreet, Youth Choir Coordinator, Durham, NC; Emmanuel Miliotis, Chanter, Wilmington, NC;
Vasilios D. Fallis, Chanter, Winston Salem, NC; Eleni Dorothea (Doris) Klonaris, Choir Member, Knoxville, TN.
Recognition Certificates for our Church Musicians
Certificates are now available and downloadable for your use in recognizing choir members, directors, organists and chanters in your parish.
A total of eight certificates are available for you to download, choose, print and have signed in time for presenting on Choir Music Sunday October 5, 2008.
Certificates with Logo: Chanting, Choir Director, Singing, Organist
Certificates without logo: Chanting, Choir Director, Singing, Organist
AXII to The Host of The 2008 Choir Conference
Sunday’s spiritually inspiring Liturgy started earlier than usual because the 80+ adult choir, 22 youth choir members and congregation witnessed the ordination of Fr. John Krokos to the priesthood. He will be assigned as second priest in Tarpon Springs, FL.
Highlights of the weekend:
Clinicians for our CMI Workshops on Thursday were our Guest Director Dr. Philip Thevaos, who presented an “Analysis of Robert Shaw Choral Technique” and our Guest Youth Directors Joanne Kambouris and Penelope Jebeles who presented ways to encourage and develop our youth to sing in our choirs. That evening the 30 CMI attendees and spouses were all treated to a home cooked dinner in the Kontos Center by the community of St. George.
Friday’s General Business Meeting discussions revolved around the Group Trip to Greece, Relocation of the Federation Library to the Metropolis, the 2008-2009 Budget,
Election of officers, ways to develop a complete list of all the choir members in our federation. A motion was passed to have a CMI Workshop in Atlanta the weekend of the Archangel Michael presentations. Possible hosts for 2009 Choir Conference were discussed.
Friday evening was a free night which allowed many to explore the area on their own.
Saturday at lunch His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios had a meeting with all the choir directors to review the highlights of his trip to Greece with members of our federation. He also discussed the proper taxe in our services and the importance of communications between the parish priest the psalti and the choir director.
Scholarships were awarded at the Saturday Night Banquet to the following:
Lygheri Danielides of St. Demetrios in Daytona Beach, FL.
Demitra Sourlis of St. Barbara’s in Durham, NC.
Asimina Boutzoukas of Holy Tinity in Clearwater, FL.
Nichole Maria Rallis of St. Nicholas in Wilmington, NC.
On Sunday His Eminence swore in a new executive board of familiar faces:
President – Margaret Sarafoglu of St. Sophia in Miami, FL
Vice President – Kathy Chapekis of St. Marks in Boca Raton, FL
Secretary – Lucy Zapsas of Holy Trinity in Charlotte, NC
Treasurer – Nick Mermigas of Holy Trinity in Charlotte, NC
Librarian – Toula Chininis of Dormition Church in Greensboro, NC
Immediate Past President – John Mitchell of St. John in Tampa, FL
Patriarch Athenagoras I Medals were given by His Eminence to the following Recipients:
Artie Palios of St. John in Tampa, FL
Peter Zervakos of Annunciation Cathedral in Atlanta, GA
Mary Zervos of Holy Trinity in Charleston, SC
Conference Photos - Tina Wilson
CHOIR PILGRIMAGE June 2008
Cathedral of St. Andrew Patras Greece
The choir sang the Divine Liturgy with His Eminence presiding on Sunday, June 8, at the church of St. Andrew in Patras, His Eminence’s home town, and on Sunday, June 15, at the church of St. Panteleimon, where His Eminence had once served as a deacon. The liturgical settings, written by Kevin Lawrence and sung under his direction, were well received—the proestamenos in Patras told the congregation that he had not expected to hear music of such high quality, and the protopsaltis at St. Panteleimon told the choir that he was moved to tears by their singing. The June 8 liturgy was broadcast live by Patras television, which also aired an interview with His Eminence throughout the day.
Thanks to the efforts of His Eminence, the singers and their family members who joined in the pilgrimage had the opportunity to visit six monasteries, not as tourists, but as guests of the monastic communities. All were grateful for the warm welcome and the inspiring discourses from the monks and nuns. The highlight was at Meteora, where the superior of the Great Meteora monastery is a cousin of Metropolitan Alexios, and where His Eminence served a Divine Liturgy exquisitely sung by the nuns of St. Stephanos monastery.
The Metropolitan also brought the pilgrims to the diocesan center of Kalavrita, for a meal, a tour of the home for the elderly operated by the diocese, and a small performance for the diocesan staff. The group sang a trisagion both at the memorial of the Nazi massacre outside Kalavrita, and at the Garden of Heroes in Messolongi. Classical Greece was represented by trips to Olympia, ancient Corinth, Thermopylae and the Acropolis. On two occasions, family members of Metropolitan Alexios offered the hospitality of an evening meal to the entire group.
Throughout the trip the pilgrims were accompanied by His Eminence, whose engagement with each person fostered a deep bond. Rarely does a group of such diverse ages and backgrounds have the opportunity to share their thoughts and impressions so openly with their bishop. Several participants mentioned the depth of prayer and fellowship they enjoyed that made the trip a life transforming event for them. Certainly, for everyone who took part, this pilgrimage was an unforgettable experience.
Reprint from Metropolis of Atlanta Bulletin for July 16, 2008
Certificate of Appreciation
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On the "Sunday of Orthodoxy" March 16, 2008, The Very Rev. Father Archimandrite Konstantinos Kostaris of Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Fayetteville, NC presented a Certificate of appreciation to Mrs. Virginia Lampros for her 72+ years of singing in the church choir. Axia!
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About the Federation
Under the guidance of †Father George and Presvytera Anna Gallos, the Southeastern Federation is made up of individual member choirs of the Metropolis of Atlanta that includes the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. These Orthodox choirs, like others all over the nation, have joined together and through the medium of annual conferences, district workshops, area gatherings, and special programs have strengthened the quality of Greek Orthodox Church music. Learn More »
History of the Federation
The
first organizational meeting of the Southeastern Federation was held in
Spartanburg, SC on February 13 and 14, 1976, chaired by Fr. George Gallos,
of blessed memory. A choral workshop by Presbytera Anna Gallos, Director
of Music, was also held. Learn More »