St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival
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How to Participate
Schedule
2022 |
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Sep-27 |
Topics announced |
Nov-08 |
Select a topic |
Nov-15 |
Register / Start preparing / Mentor assigned |
2023 |
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Jan-20 |
Speeches are due (email them to Fr. Alex so he can review and provide feedback) |
Feb-04 |
Parish Oratorical Festival (in the church sanctuary) |
Step 1
Select Topic
Oratorical Festival Topics 2023
Junior Division (grades 7-9)
- Orthodox tradition teaches that the saints remain spiritually active beyond their earthly life. Discuss how we ask the Saints to intercede and pray for us and why.
- Orthodox Christians honor the Virgin Mary, the Most Holy Theotokos. What does the Orthodox Church believe about her and her role in our salvation?
- The sacraments are the mysteries of the Church through which God gives us His grace by actions, words, and material objects (for example, oil, wine, and bread). Pick one sacrament and explain its meaning.
- Jesus models and teaches humility throughout His life and ministry. Discuss the challenges of living according to Jesus’ teachings in a society that does not necessarily emphasize humility.
- Consider and discuss why and how icons are central to our faith and Orthodox practice.
Senior Division (grades 10-12)
- The Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople is the highest seat and the Mother Church of Orthodox Christians. The Ecumenical Patriarch is the spiritual leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide. Discuss how the Patriarchate has been a symbol of unity, a source of missionary growth, an advocate of dialogue among Christians, and a defender of the historical Orthodox Faith.
- During times of crisis, our faith is tested. How are Orthodox Christians taught to understand and manage pain and suffering?
- The Christian message in C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has influenced many believers of Christ. How has another work of fiction inspired people to seek Jesus Christ?
- We have lived through a pandemic and emerged with deep societal divides. How can our faith in Christ heal us and take us forward together?
- The Resurrection of Jesus Christ both transforms the relationship between God and humanity and alters the course of history. How would you explain its significance to someone who has not heard about it or is unsure if God exists?
Step 2
Register
About the Festival
Introduced in 1983, the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival provides Greek Orthodox teenagers the opportunity to write and talk about their faith. The Oratorical Festival Program begins at the parish level and is divided into three divisions:
- Elementary Division (local festival only) for students in grades 4–6
- Junior Division for students in grades 7–9
- Senior Division for student in grades 10–12
The top speakers in the Junior and Senior Divisions advance to the district level. Two finalists in each district division represent the district at the Metropolis Oratorical Festival. The top speaker in each metropolis division is then selected to participate in the Archdiocese Finals, which is hosted by a different metropolis each year.
All eighteen finalists at the Archdiocese Finals participate in a weekend of activities, the highlight of which is the delivery of their speeches on Saturday morning. The Oratorical Festival Scholarship Fund provides college scholarships to the top speakers. Currently, the top three speakers of each division receive college scholarships of $2,000, $1,500 and $1,000. This year, each Honorable Mention speaker will be awarded $500.
MORE INFO
Archdiocese Level
Metropolis Level
AddressContact |
PriestFr. Alex Radulescu
Office HoursMON - FRI: 10am - 3pm
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