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Under breathtaking iconography depicting the Holy Resurrection, the Romanos the Melodist Chanters’ Society of Greater New York captivated hierarchs, clergy, parishioners, and guests with hymns and Constantinopolitan folk songs in honor of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for St. Bartholomew’s feast day. Their booming voices echoed through the walls of Holy Resurrection Greek Orthodox Church in Brookville, New York as the sun set, peeking through the church’s sky lights.
Additionally, the event fundraised for the Orthodox mission in New Zealand and Oceania. This program honored special guest His Eminence Metropolitan Myron of New Zealand and Oceania. Metropolitan Myron is continuing to conduct missionary work in the region, supporting impoverished communities.
“This vision of the Church means that every baptized Christian, whether living in New York, Athens, Auckland, or the Pacific islands are bound together as brothers and sisters in Christ. The joys and responsibilities of evangelism belong to all of us,” Metropolitan Myron said in his keynote address. “Mission does not take anything away from us, it enriches us as we share with the other. It opens us to the world, reminding us that Christ came for all people without exception.”
The St. Romanos O Melodos Chanters’ Society of Greater New York was founded in 2023, with the paternal encouragement and blessings of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and the initiative of the local area chanters of greater New York. Within the framework of its activities, it provides free classes in Byzantine music and traditional Greek instruments every Monday evening at the Transfiguration of Christ Church in Corona, NY.
The art of Byzantine chant has been included on UNESCO’s official List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The purpose of its inclusion is to showcase the importance of studying and preserving the art of Byzantine chant for the benefit of posterity, as well as sensitizing all interested parties and stakeholders to take action to promote and propagate our cultural legacy, whose roots date back to the ancient Greek musical tradition and has spanned millennia serving as a musical tradition for millions of people. The mission of St. Romanos O Melodos Society is to spread the art of Byzantine music and train new chanters to serve in local parishes and carry on this rich spiritual and cultural legacy.
The community was welcomed by parish priest Fr. Panteleimon Papadopoulos. Among those in attendance were His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, His Grace Bishop Athenagoras of Nazianzos, His Grace Bishop Nektarios of Diokleia, as well as ecumenical and interfaith guests His Eminence Metropolitan Saba, Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, His Eminence Archbishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Armenian Apostolic Church of the Holy See of Cilicia, and Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Executive Vice President of the New York Board of Rabbis.
The program began with ecclesiastical hymnology: “Apolytikion of St. Romanos O Melodos;” “Apolytikion of St. Bartholomew the Apostle;” “Who Is So Great a God;” “Slow Evlogitaria;” “Praise God in the Highest;” “Slow Great Doxology;” and “We Venerate Your Cross, O Master.”
Following the hymns, an orchestra joined the chanters to perform Constantinopolitan folk songs: “Why Is That Any Concern of Yours?; I’ve Told You, and I’ll Tell You Again;” “Pera of Constantinople;” “They Told Me, Mr. Kostakis, Come Closer;” “From a Foreign Land;” “Like the Marbles of Constantinople;” “Farewell, and May You Always Be Well.” Guests sang along to many of the familiar tunes.
“On behalf of all assembled, I express our collective gratitude and congratulations to the Romanos the Melodist Greek Orthodox Byzantine Choir and Chanters Society of Greater New York, under the direction of Dr. Demetrios Kehagias. Their melodic voices have truly glorified God and uplifted our souls giving us a glimps the joy of heavenly mansions,” His Eminence said. “Sharing this evening with Metropolitan Myron is a particular honor for all of us, for his devotion to His All-Holiness is well known, and is an example to all. Having just returned from the Phanar myself only days ago, I still feel the rays of light and love that pour forth from our Ecumenical Patriarch, whose fatherly embrace strengthens me every day.”
Following the Archiepiscopal Address, the leaders of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, National Philoptochos Society, and Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Fund gave presentations.
National Commander, Archon Grand Aktouarios Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis presented Metropolitan Myron with a donation to support his ministry in New Zealand and Oceania.
National Vice President of the National Philoptochos Society Anita Kartalopoulos presented two donations. The National Philoptochos Society has two commitments related to mission work; a commitment to support individual mission priests and a general commitment to missionary work. As part of their initiative to support individual priests, Philoptochos offered Metropolitan Myron a donation of $50,000.
As part of their annual commitment to the Ecumenical Patriarchate on His All Holiness’s name day, National Philoptochos presented a $125,000 donation for Archbishop Elpidophoros to deliver to His All Holiness. Each Philoptochos chapter nationwide contributed to this donation.
The Rev. Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne Panagiotis Papazafiropoulos, Executive Director of Leadership 100 with Paulette Poulos, Senior Advisor of Leadership 100, also presented Metropolitan Myron with a donation to support his missionary work.
The program concluded with a Polychronion the St. Romanos O Melodos chanters invited guests to participate and lead. All guests stood up and joined the chanters in a beautiful hymnal, bringing the church to life through the beauty of Byzantine music.
If you would like to support the mission efforts in the Metropolis of New Zealand and Oceania, you may donate here.
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