Oratorical Festival

The Saint John Chrysostom Oratorical and Fine Arts Festival

Background

The Saint John Chrysostom Oratorical and Fine Arts Festival is a long-standing tradition that provides a unique opportunity for our youth both to learn about their faith and to display their talents in various areas. The Oratorical Festival begins at the parish level and is divided into three divisions: Elementary (optional/parish festival only) for grades 4–6, Junior Division for grades 7–9, and Senior Division for grades 10–12.

Those who are successful at their individual parish festivals in the Junior and Senior divisions are invited to participate in a day of fellowship at the Metropolis Festival, where the top three finalists in each category and division will be awarded. Those who place first in the Junior and Senior Speech (only) divisions will then move on to participate at the National Festival, which is hosted by a different metropolis each year.

2025 Metropolis Festival

With the blessings of His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael, we are pleased to announce that the 41st Annual Saint John Chrysostom Oratorical and Fine Arts Festival will be held on Bright Saturday, April 26, 2025 at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 601 South Central Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, 60644. We are excitedly anticipating a weekend of spiritual celebration and fellowship for all in attendance. Please keep in mind the following important dates and information as you begin your preparations:

General Information

The Metropolis Festival will offer 6 categories (Speech, Essay, Poetry, Iconography, Vocal Solo, and Vocal Chant), each with 2 divisions (Senior/10th-12th grades and Junior/7th 9th grades). Once again, our Metropolis youth are invited to register for as many as two separate events at the Metropolis Festival. The guidelines for the Metropolis Festival are contained in the Metropolis Information Packet below.

In addition to the Metropolis Information Packet, we have also included below a list of this year’s National Topics, Tips, and Resources (for Speech, Essay, and Poetry). The Music Selections (for Vocal Solo and Vocal Chant) are contained in the Metropolis Information Packet. Please take time to read through these documents and forward copies to all of your parish youth.

Metropolis Information Packet

2025 National Topics, Tips and Resources

Registration

All Parish Festival Chairpersons must register below as soon as possible to be added to our distribution list. All Participants who place 1st in each of the 6 categories at their parish festivals will advance to the Metropolis Festival and must register below by Monday, April 7, 2025. Please note that these forms are different from those found on the National website.

Parish Chairperson Registration Form

Participant Registration Form

Deadline

All entries for Speech, Essay, Poetry, Vocal Solo, and Vocal Chant, both Junior and Senior Divisions, must be submitted no later than Monday, April 7, 2025. These submissions must be sent electronically to oratoricalfestival@gmail.com. All entries for Iconography, both Junior and Senior Divisions, must be postmarked no later than Monday, April 7, 2025. These submissions must be sent by mail to Andrea Tsakopoulos, 8800 Verbena Court, St. John, Indiana, 46373. Late submissions in any category will not be judged.

Award Luncheon Information

We invite everyone to attend the Awards Luncheon for all categories and divisions immediately following the presentation of the Speeches, Vocal Solos, and Vocal Chants.

All Participants, Clergy, Presbyteres, and Metropolis Festival Judges will dine free of charge. Additional guests and family members will be asked to donate $20/adult and $15/children under 12 years old.

To obtain a proper headcount, Assumption has created the Awards Luncheon Registration Form below. Please click on the link or the QR code and submit it by Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

Awards Luncheon Registration

If you have any questions about the Awards Luncheon, please feel free to contact our Host Parish Committee Co-Chairs Marina Demos at marinademos@yahoo.com or George Demas at george@assumptionchicago.org.

Festival Day Information

Schedule

8:00 a.m.	Registration and Continental Breakfast Display of Icons, Poems, and Essays Church Hall
8:30 a.m.	Prayer Service Church
9:15 a.m. 9:45 a.m.	Orientation of all Judges, Speech Participants, and Vocal Solo/Vocal Chant Participants Labeled Classrooms Judges, Speech Participants, Vocal Solo/Vocal Chant Participants, and Spectators go to respective locations Church/Labeled Classrooms
10:00 a.m.	Festival Speeches and Vocal Solos/Vocal Chants begin *Church/Labeled Classrooms*
12:00 p.m. 12:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m.	Festival Speeches and Vocal Solos/Vocal Chants Conclude/Awarding of Participation Certificates/Photographs Church Awards Luncheon Church Hall Conclusion

Hotel

A block of rooms has been reserved for Friday and Saturday, April 25-27, 2025, at Crown Plaza Chicago West Loop, 25 South Halsted Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60661. Discounted reservations at the rate of $199.00 (plus taxes) per night may be made by calling (800) 972-2494 (Group: Assumption Greek Orthodox Church) or by clicking the link Assumption Greek Orthodox Church. Please note that reservations must be made by Wednesday, March 26, 2025. The Assumption Parish Family invites all participants and their guests to a continental breakfast upon arrival to the church on Saturday morning, the day of the Festival.

2025 Metropolis Festival Poster

This year’s poster features the icon written by Evanthia Fotopoulos of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Schererville, Indiana, the winner of the 2024 Senior Iconography Division. We hope that you will print and display it in a prominent location in your parish.

2025 Metropolis Festival Poster

National Festival

The National Festival, which includes the Metropolis winners for the Speech category only, is scheduled to take place during the weekend of May 30, 2025 at the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Support – Event Sponsorship

For 41 years, the youth of our Metropolis have been given a forum to share their love of Jesus Christ and witness their Orthodox faith. Whether through the medium of speech or essay, poetry or iconography, vocal solo or vocal chant, the youth of our Metropolis have expressed their faith for more than four decades. We are honored to continue this tradition in 2025 at the Metropolis of Chicago Festival, which will take place on Bright Saturday, April 26, at the host parish of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago, Illinois.

Thanks to the generosity of individuals and organizations across our Metropolis, we have been able to expand the offerings of our Metropolis Festival over time, appealing to the diverse strengths and interests of our youth. Two years ago, we increased the scholarships awarded to our first-place speech participants to help cover their travel costs to the National Festival. For the first time last year, we also extended these gifts to first-place participants across the other five categories.

As someone who has given of your time, talents, and treasures in support of Orthodoxy, we ask that you consider including this year’s Metropolis Oratorical Festival as a recipient of your philanthropic giving. With your help, we can once again organize a memorable program for our youth and their families—one that will strengthen their faith and warm their hearts.

Donation Letter

Donation Submission Form

Online Submission Form

Contact Information

We ask that you forward this Metropolis Festival information to everyone at your parish who is involved in a youth ministry, as well as parents of your church school registrants. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to e-mail or call us with any questions. We look forward to celebrating with everyone in April!