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.
2025 Oratorical Festival Honorees
Xristos Anesti! Thank you once again for helping to make the Metropolis Oratorical and Fine Arts Festival such an inspirational weekend. We are forever grateful to Father Apostolos Georgiafentis, Marina Demas, George Demos, Mary Zouras, and the Assumption-Panagia community for hosting us, especially as we were able to gather in person to celebrate the talents of our youth and our ministry.
Congratulations to the following 2025 Metropolis Oratorical & Fine Arts Festival Honorees:
| Speech | ||
|
Junior Division 1st Nicole Mulla 2nd Paul Houck 3rd Sophia Palas |
St. George St. Mary’s St. Nectarios |
Chicago, IL Minneapolis, MN Palatine, IL |
|
Senior Division 1st Constantine Zouras 2nd Jacob Cash Baffes 3rd Susanna Brown |
Ascension of Our Lord SS. Constantine & Helen St. Nectarios |
Lincolnshire, IL Palos Hills, IL Palatine, IL |
| Essays | ||
|
Junior Division 1st James Georgeon 2nd Lia Mackris 3rd Efremia Siozios |
St. Demetrios SS. Peter & Paul Assumption |
Hammond, IN Glenview, IL Chicago, IL |
|
Senior Division 1st Julia Voulgarakis 2nd Sophia Anteliz 3rd Aspasia Rovolis |
Assumption Ascension of Our Lord St. Mary’s |
Chicago, IL Lincolnshire, IL Minneapolis, MN |
| Poetry | ||
|
Junior Division 1st Anthony Milak 2nd Constantine Chipain 3rd Yianni Papadopoulos |
Holy Apostles Assumption SS. Peter & Paul |
Westchester, IL Homer Glen, IL Glenview, IL |
|
Senior Division 1st Shaun Canas 2nd Christos Kotis 3rd Stella Tagalakis |
St. George St. John the Baptist Ascension of Our Lord |
St. Paul, MN Des Plaine, IL Lincolnshire, IL |
| Iconography | ||
|
Junior Division 1st Josephina Stamatis 2nd Mia Carrozza 3rd Vasili Xinos |
St. John the Baptist SS. Peter & Paul Holy Cross |
Des Plaines, IL Glenview, IL Justice, IL |
|
Senior Division 1st Diamanto Mesiacos 2nd Thanasi Maglaras 3rd Melani Luhm |
St. Athanasios Ascension of Our Lord Kimissis Tis Theotokou |
Aurora, IL Lincolnshire, IL Racine, WI |
| Vocal Solo | ||
|
Junior Division 1st Eleni Katsoulis 2nd Nicoletta Anderson |
St. Nectarios Kimissis Tis Theotokou |
Palatine, IL Racine, WI |
| Vocal Chant | ||
|
Junior Division 1st Demetri Christofer 2nd Maria Zouros 3rd Vasileios Yannoulis |
St. Spyridon Ascension of Our Lord St. John the Baptist |
Palos Heights, IL Lincolnshire, IL Des Plaines, IL |
|
Senior Division 1st Maria Malamis 2nd Hara Klimediotis 3rd Georgios Vasilakis |
Ascension of Our Lord St. John the Baptist St. Sophia |
Lincolnshire, IL Des Plaines, IL Elgin, IL |
Wishing you all the best and looking forward to celebrating with everyone again next year.
With love and gratitude,
Audrey Polite
Andrea Tsakopoulos
Metropolis Oratorical Festival Committee Co-Chairs
2025 Oratorical Festival Event Booklet
Click on the following link to view our 2025 Oratorical Festival Booklet.
https://chicago.goarch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2025-Packet.pdf
2025 Photos
Click on the following link to view our 2025 Oratorical Festival photographs, taken by Lex Alexander.
2025 National Festival
Congratulations to Constantine Zouras (Ascension of Our Lord, Lincolnshire, IL) and Nicole Mulla (St. George, Chicago, IL), our Chicago Metropolis representatives for Senior and Junior Speech, respectively, who will participate at the National Oratorical Festival at St. Nichaolas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania during the weekend of May 30th – June 1, 2025. Good luck to Constantine and Nicole!
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.
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!
Chicago Metropolis Oratorical Festival Committee
Andrea Tsakopoulos, Co-Chair: (219) 789-4474
Audrey Polite, Co-Chair: (219) 742-7679
Email: oratoricalfestival@gmail.com
Video Interviews
The Role of the Mother of God in Our Lives
Gabriella E. | St. Demetrios, Libertyville, IL
What is the importance of service in the Orthodox Church?
Luke C. | Holy Apostles, Westchester, IL
What is the Mother of God’s role in the Church?
Eleftheria A. | Assumption, Town and Country, MO
Showing Hospitality to Strangers
Alex K. | SS Peter and Paul, Glenview, IL
How have modern-day saints from the past 100 years, from St. Nektarios to St. Paisios and others, helped Orthodox Christians live their lives today?
Anthony T. | St. Demetrios, Chicago, IL
What is the significance of Constantinople and Church History, and the struggle that Orthodox Christians in Constantinople face today?
Katherine S. | Kimissis Tis Theotokou, Racine, WI