The unanimous decision to present this highest honor was made by the Department of Philology and the Rector’s Council of the National and Capodistrian University of Athens in order to recognize Archbishop Demetrios “for his support and promotion of the Hellenic Paideia internationally, his contributions to the sciences and to the Hellenism of the Diaspora and his dynamic ecclesiastical, scientific and didactic ethos as a professor.”  

Upon learning of this honor, His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew sent a warm congratulatory letter to Archbishop Demetrios in which he wrote,  “ The words of the Lord ‘the one who has will give and still have in excess’ apply perfectly to your beloved Eminence who has been honored by God multiply; for you have proved to be a faithful steward of the diversified Grace of the Most Holy Spirit in all of your ecclesiastical and scientific undertakings through which you offer greatest joy to the ones who love and deeply esteem you and most importantly to our Great Holy Mother Church of Christ, which justly prides herself on you for being a person according to Christ, an excellent scientist and a distinguished Hierarch.” 

The Board of OCMC, the official international mission and evangelism agency of SCOBA, is comprised of 34 clergy and laity members representing various Orthodox jurisdictions. They were encouraged by the presence and words of support from Archbishop Demetrios at the meeting. His Eminence emphasized the importance of the work of the Mission Center for the growth of the Orthodox Church around the world. He praised OCMC’s exhibited expansion and proclaimed his support of the OCMC’s Capital Campaign to fund endowments for Mission work and to build a new Mission Center in St. Augustine, FL. The Capital Campaign, now in its final stages, was discussed during the meeting as the Board of Directors reviewed the architect’s drawings and other plans for moving into the new Center by the end of 2006.
 
Aside from work related to the Board’s fiscal and governing responsibilities, the Board of Directors also embarked on preparatory work for a new 5-year Strategic Plan to be implemented at the beginning of 2006 and approved two new OCMC Missionaries. Mr. Constantine Triantafilou, the Executive Director of International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), OCMC’s sister organization, updated the OCMC Board on the latest projects and programs of IOCC. This general sharing of information was followed by dialogue and discussions which reaffirmed the continued close relationship between OCMC and IOCC, who work in harmony in the service of the Lord.
 
The OCMC Health Care Committee held a reception for local area health care professionals to learn about Mission opportunities. Dr. John Demakis, chair of the Health Care Committee and a member of the host St. Katherine parish organized the event.
 
Archbishop Demetrios was the keynote speaker at the OCMC Banquet, Wednesday, May 25, 2005, sponsored by the Mission Committee of St. Katherine. His Eminence spoke about the importance of mission and service as members of the Body of Christ. He read the last words of Christ before His Ascension from the last chapter of the Gospel of Matthew called the Great Commission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” The Archbishop went on to highlight some of the 2004 accomplishments of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center including the first Mission Team sent to Korea, 273 indigenous clergy financially supported in mission lands, 6 churches built, 9,651 people receiving medical or dental care and the land purchased for a new Mission Center.
 
Fr. Chad Hatfield, OCMC Board Vice President and Dean of St. Herman Seminary in Kodiak, AK, Fr. Martin Ritsi, OCMC Executive Director, and Cliff Argue, OCMC Board President, also spoke at the banquet.  Dr. John Demakis served as Master of Ceremonies.
 
During the banquet, the presentation of a gift of $100,000 for the OCMC Capital Campaign was made by Mr. Charles Masterpolis, an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in honor of his parents. Mr. Masterpolis of Savannah, GA, is a very dedicated Orthodox philanthropist. He was given a commemorative hand-written icon of the Great Commission for his generosity. His Eminence Demetrios was honored for all the work he has done in support of missions with a similar icon.

“Church Music – A Ministry for the Orthodox Parish Family:Opportunities and Challenges”

2005 Summer Institute of Theological Education to feature National Church Music Program

Brookline - Once again, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America brings together religious educators, clergy, and church musicians for a weekend of learning experiences and stimulating interchanges at the Summer Institute on Theological Education, to be held June 16-18 at Holy Cross School of Theology. The Summer Institute is co-sponsored by the Archdiocese Department of Religious Education, the National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians, and the Holy Cross School of Theology. Three “tracks” comprise the Institute: adult education, clergy, and church musicians.

The overarching theme of this year’s Summer Institute is "Ministering to the Orthodox Family."  Similarly, the theme for the Church Music program is “Church Music: A Ministry for the Orthodox Parish Family.” Sessions are organized into five aspects of parish life where church music can foster religious education and growth: 1) Congregational Singing, 2) Byzantine Chanting, 3) Choir Development, 4) Liturgical Music for Youth, and 5) Composing in English. The Church Music program is made possible through Leadership 100, which provided a generous grant to the National Forum to bring a national cadre of church musicians to serve as faculty for the Church Music program.

The purpose of the Church Music program is to provide opportunities for participants to explore issues related to expanding church music into a more comprehensive parish ministry, to experience practical applications of ideas, and to  motivate church musicians to offer their services and talents to the parish as a whole. During the three-day Institute, participants will hear thoughtful and practical guest lectures, panel presentations, and participate in smaller practicum sessions.

The Summer Institute opens on Thursday evening, June 16, with a session for participants of all three tracks. Dr. John Chirban will give a presentation on “Enlivening the Family through Life in the Spirit.” The Church Music program opens on Friday with specific church music sessions, following a welcome by the Rev. Frank Marangos, Director of the Department of Religious Education. Metropolitan Methodios of Boston has also been invited to greet participants with comments related to “Church Music: An Entire Parish Ministry.”  Dr. Vicki Pappas, National Chairman of the National Forum of Church Musicians, will set the stage with an address entitled, “Church Music – Not Just in the Choir Loft!”  The Rev. Constantine Sitaras, Director of St. Basil’s Academy and the Center for Family Life,  will deliver the Keynote Address, “Ministering to the Orthodox Parish Family: Implications for Church Music and the Church Musician.”

The next component of the Church Music program, on Friday afternoon, June 17,  will focus on Congregational Participation. The Rev. Michael Bird, from St. Gregory in Mansfield, MA, will begin the discussion with “Congregational Singing or Congregational Engagement?”  Then Dr. Tikey Zes, choir director at St. Nicholas in San Jose, CA,  will give a lecture-demonstration entitled “Organizing for Congregational Singing – Models and Demonstrations.”  Participants will read through music suitable for encouraging congregational singing.

On Friday evening, there will be two concurrent sessions, one for composers and one for those interested in developing liturgical music programs for youth. The Composers Workshop will be led by Dr. Zes, who will coordinate a discussion and work session among composers related to composing for English texts. The goal is to work together to develop a common  version of “Christos Anesti” and “Aionia I Mnimi” that can be proposed for use in the parishes.

The evening’s Youth Session will be led by Joanne Kambouras, choir director of Holy Trinity in Clearwater, FL and Chairman of the National Forum’s Standing Committee on Youth. She will speak on “Youth Music: Programming for Involvement and Liturgical Education.”  Phyllis Onest, Religious Education Director of the Metropolis of Pittsburgh, will share ideas about “Gaining Clergy and Church School Support.” Last, a panel will present “Promising Practices: Parish Liturgical Music Programs for Youth.” Panelists will include church musicians who have developed junior choir  and hymnology programs for youth in their parishes and metropolises: Vicki Pappas/Indianapolis, Heidi Mason/Brockton MA, Kathleen Powell/Portland OR, and Elia Nicholas, Raleigh NC.

The two Saturday sessions focus on Byzantine Chanting and Choir Development. Byzantine Chanting will occur in the morning, with a talk by Stanley Takis of Lansing MI on “The Defining Characteristics of Byzantine Chant.” Father Seraphim Dedes will discuss “How to Start Learning to Chant.” Two practicum sessions are designed to help participants learn model melodies and isons associated with each mode. Father Seraphim and Richard Vanderhoff will be the instructors of these workshops. Saturday afternoon’s Choir Development session will begin with a keynote by the Rev. Athanasios Demos, Chancellor of the Metropolis of Boston. His talk will be entitled “The Role of the Choir - Historical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Background.”  Kevin Lawrence will discuss “Choir Recruitment, Retention, and Maintaining Commitment.”  A panel of choir directors will close the session, leading discussion about “Improving the ‘Phronema’ and Performance of Choirs.”

Registration materials, lodging, and cost information are available online at this website: http://www.holycross.hchc.edu/pages/summerinstitute. You may also call the Department of Religious Education at 617-850-1218, or e-mail Vicki Pappas at pappas@indiana.edu. Coordinating the Summer Institute’s registration and logistic arrangements are Presvytera Haidee Marangos and Department staff. Constantine Limberakis of Hellenic College is handling special arrangements for the Church Music program.

Contact: 
Department of Religious Education at 617-850-1218
Vicki Pappas at pappas@indiana.edu