Introduced in 1983, the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival provides
Greek Orthodox teenagers the opportunity to write and talk about their faith. The top speakers in the Junior and Senior
Divisions for each parish 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 Foundation provides college scholarships in the amount of $2,000, $1,500, and $1,000 to the top three speakers
in each division. In addition, those finalists who receive a rank of Honorable Mention are awarded a $500 U.S. Savings Bond.
This
Year Annamaria Kendrat presented her junior level St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Speech on the Nativity of the Theotokos.
Annamaria showed forth courage, fortitude and of-course leadership in her ability to convey such a masterful witness of her
faith as such a youngster. One might conclude that the Theotokos herself has been her model and inspiration. Annamaria will
now advance to the District level finals to be held on March 31, 2012, in Virginia Beach, where she will represent our church,
amongst the other Greek Orthodox Churches of Virginia; please keep her in your prayers. Annamaria is only one example of the
type of future leaders which are sprouting within our members.
Our representative for this year’s
St. Johns Oratorical Festival Annamaria Kendrat placed FIRST for the state of Virginia, and will represent our Parish at the
Metropolis competition in the Junior Competition! As those of you who heard Annamaria’s speech on the Theotokos
last month at our Parish, I’m sure this is not a big surprise considering how polished and well-delivered it was. On
behalf of Fr. George, the Parish Council, and our entire Parish…we want to congratulate Annamaria on a job well done,
and wish her well during the next stage of the competition. Congratulations Annamaria!
With this huge accomplishment, a member of the Greek Orthodox Parish of Loudoun County has been
selected as the Virginia representative to the Metropolitan competition for the third straight year. Our participants
and their parents are to be commended for this…and we'd also like to thank Nick Zangos who took charge of this program
three years ago for us and has provided strong leadership and guidance to our children who volunteer…yielding three
straight Virginia winners. Thank you for your continued support!
