Archbishop Demetrios Presents Last Installment from the Greek Fire Relief Fund
ATHENS – The 10-day musical tour of the Archdiocesan Youth Choir to Constantinople, Cyprus and Greece under the leadership of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, concluded on the evening of July 12, 2011 with the third formal concert held in the magical setting of the open-air amphitheater of Ionian Village. The facilities of Ionian Village, the summer camping program of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America are located in Vartholomeio Ileias, on the Ionian coast of Peloponnesus.
Ionian Village is celebrating 40 years of life and invaluable contributions to the Youth as a “Golden Bridge” between the Greek-Orthodox Omogeneia in America and Greece and the Archdiocesean Youth Choir Concert was offered in honor and recognition of this long history and the almost 17,000 young people who have been part of it over the years. In the last couple of years an ambitious renovation plan has been put into effect and many infrastructure improvements and renovations have been already realized with many more needed and scheduled for the near future. The Ionian Village program is supported by “FAITH: An Endowment for Orthodoxy and Hellenism” through scholarships which this year reached $200,000. The National Hellenic Society has also sponsored scholarships this year in the amount of $25,000.
The 40-Year Anniversary concert of the Archdiocesan Youth Choir was given under a clear moonlit summer sky in front of an audience of more than 500 people. Among the many guests and government officials were the alternate Minister of Education and Religious Affairs Mrs. Fofi Genimata, who made the long car trip from Athens just for the concert, His Eminence Metropolitan Germanos of Ileia, the regional governor of Western Greece Apostolos Katsifaras, the prefect of Ileia and lieutenant governor Haralambos Kafiras and the Mayor of the municipality of Peinios Alexios Kastrinos. Also in attendance were many members of the local clergy, members of the Parliament, and political representatives of Peloponnesus and ranking officers of the military and the local police authorities.
The Ionian Village campers, counselors and staff, more than 200 people in total, were also in attendance and were instrumental in the organization, support and success of the event. Dr. Gregory Papadeas from Denver, Colorado, who was a counselor at Ionian Village some 30 years ago, who along with Dr. Jim Skedros from Salt Lake City, serve as the volunteer doctors of IV, was at hand to offer welcoming remarks at the concert in both Greek and English. The Director of Ionian Village Fr. Jason Roll also offered his welcome and spoke briefly about the enthusiasm of the campers in anticipation of the concert. Minister of Education Genimatas, offered a warm greeting and congratulations to both the IV Program and the Archdiocesan Choir. She particularly outlined the role and the many offerings of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, crediting Archbishop Demetrios for his personal care for the Youth and the related ministries.
The musical program was once again received with enthusiasm and applause and under the direction of Conductor Maria Koleva and with the piano accompaniment of the accomplished pianist Vassilis Varvaresos was the highlight of the evening.
A reception followed in the great lawn and gardens of Ionian Village. The campers offered a program of Greek traditional dances, which they had learned and practiced during t For the rest of this News Release, visit the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America website
High Praise for the Archdiocesan Youth Choir's Second Amazing Concert
July 9, 2011
Songs for Cyprus, the land of love and the land of dreams, performed with lyricism, emotion and artistic excellence the Archdiocesan Youth Choir of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the evening of July 8, 2011, in the gardens of the Presidential Palace in the capital Lefkosia and in the presence of the President of the Republic of Cyprus Dimitris Christofias, the First Lady Elsie Christofias and His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus.
LEFKOSIA, Cyprus – Songs for Cyprus, the land of love and the land of dreams, performed with lyricism, emotion and artistic excellence the Archdiocesan Youth Choir of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the evening of July 8, 2011, in the gardens of the Presidential Palace in the capital Lefkosia and in the presence of the President of the Republic of Cyprus Dimitris Christofias, the First Lady Elsie Christofias and His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos of Cyprus.
It was the second concert of the Archdiocesan Youth Choir in Cyprus (the first was in 2007) and it was also the second formal concert of the musical tour the Choir is taking these days under the leadership of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America to Constantinople, Cyprus and Greece, which will conclude with a performance at Ionian Village (Bartholomio, Greece) on July 12. The Concert was organized under the aegis of the First Lady Elsie Christofias to benefit the philanthropic work of the
Committee for the Care and Assistance to Cyprus Children,
which encompasses the work of the Cyprus Children Fund of America, the Cyprus Relief Fund – London, and the Fund for Cyprus Refugee Children of Athens. The Committee had initially assisted and supported children of Cypriots missing in action, or those who were severely impacted by the Turkish invasion of 1974. This work continues to this day to assist children of displaced or enclaved families and children from dysfunctional families.
The Archdiocesan Youth Choir performing in the gardens of the Presidential Palace in Lefkosia, Cyprus (photo © Dimitris Panagos/GOA)
The thirty-seven member Archdiocesan Youth Choir, under the very skilled direction of Conductor Maria Koleva and with the piano accompaniment of the accomplished pianist Vassilis Varvaresos offered a moving musical journey to the approximately 500 people who had gathered in the open-air stage of the Presidential Palace. The audience included many ministers of the government, members of the parliament and high government officials and diplomats.
The 21-song program began with the traditional version of the Hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos “Ti Ypermaho,” followed by a second adaptation in an arrangement by Cypriot composer Sophia Serghi. It included some well known and loved melodies by renown Greek composers Manos Hatzidakis and Mikis Theodorakis, Marios Tokas and Stavros Kouyioumtzis and a selection of international and Broadway hits. The virtuoso pianist Vassilis Varvaresos performed solo an excerpt from Franz Liszt’s Concert for Piano as an interlude in the program, receiving the enthusiastic applause of the audience.
The second half of the program was devoted to Songs for Cyprus, the land of love and dreams, the land of lemon trees and olive groves, the land of the heartbroken Panagia and the land of unjust loss. The Archdiocesan Youth Choir through their melodic songs and the poignant lyrics moved the audience to tears and affirmed the support of the Greek Orthodox Omogeneia in America for the struggle of the people of Cyprus for freedom and justice.
At the onset of the Concert the First lady of Cyprus, Mrs. Elsie Christofias spoke briefly about the philanthropic work of the Committee for the Care and Assistance to Cyprus Children and thanked Archbishop Demetrios, the children of the Choir and its benefactors.
“We thank you for all your efforts and labors to bring ju For the rest of this News Release, visit the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America website
First Concert of the Archdiocesan Youth Choir Tour In Constantinople
July 2, 2011
The Archdiocesan Youth Choir of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America gave today July 2, 2011 at 7 p.m, a concert in honor His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the election and enthronement of His All Holiness to the first throne of the Orthodox Church.
CONSTANTINOPLE – The Archdiocesan Youth Choir of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America gave today July 2, 2011 at 7 p.m, a concert in honor His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the election and enthronement of His All Holiness to the first throne of the Orthodox Church
The concert was held in the historic church of St. Irene, which stands next to “Agia Sophia” and was the site of the Second Ecumenical Synod in 381 A.D. The Archdiocesan Youth Choir is led by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America in a tour to Constantinople, Cyprus and Greece, which will end with a performance at Ionian Village (Bartholomio, Greece) on July 12.
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