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Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine invites the faithful to a deeply moving Christmas musical celebration on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at 7:00 PM, followed by fellowship and light refreshments. The Shrine proudly presents Christmas at the Castle, a musical chronicle in three acts composed by Kyriakos Kalaitzidis with poetic text by Vasiliki Nevrokopli, based on Alexandros Papadiamantis’ treasured Christmas story “To Christ, at the Castle.” This offering continues the Shrine’s mission to bring Hellenic culture and Orthodox spirituality to the heart of New York City during the Nativity season.
This exceptional composition—released by Cappella Records—brings Papadiamantis’ world to life through authentic Byzantine musical tradition, fifteen-syllable Greek verse, and rich atmospheric soundscapes. Nevrokopli’s poetic adaptation remains faithful to Papadiamantis’ language and ethos, while Kalaitzidis’ music draws deeply from the Byzantine octaechos, blending learned and popular musical idioms. The work is performed collaboratively by the internationally acclaimed ensemble En Chordais (Greece) and the distinguished vocal ensemble Psaltikon (USA), bridging literature, chant, and instrumental virtuosity into one unified spiritual experience.
A central part of this production is the Boston-based ensemble Psaltikon, which provides the choir for the Saint Nicholas performance. Psaltikon is dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of the musical heritage of Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean through rigorous scholarship, performance, and recordings. Its name derives from the medieval psaltikon, the chant book containing the most ornate repertoire for soloists in the Asmatic Rite of Constantinople. Under the direction of its founder, Dr. Spyridon Antonopoulos—Honorary Research Fellow at City, University of London, and longtime member of Cappella Romana—the ensemble offers a historically informed Byzantine vocal aesthetic of exceptional depth and refinement. Psaltikon’s participation ensures that Christmas at the Castle is presented with authenticity, elegance, and profound liturgical sensitivity.
The story inspiring the work is one of Greece’s most beloved Christmas narratives. Papadiamantis recounts the journey of Fr. Frangoulis and the villagers of Skiathos as they brave stormy seas, snow, and darkness to reach the remote Church of the Nativity—known as “Christ at the Castle”—to celebrate the Christmas liturgy and rescue stranded woodsmen. Their pilgrimage becomes a testament to faith, compassion, philotimo, and community, culminating in a miraculous gathering that reflects the true Orthodox ethos of Christmas. Through the combined artistry of En Chordais and Psaltikon, this production revives the timeless spiritual power of Papadiamantis’ tale for today’s audience, making it an unforgettable experience for families, parishioners, and friends of the Shrine. The concert has been already offered successfully at the Music Hall of Thessaloniki, Greece on 11/30/2025 ,and it will be opened at the Maliotis Cultural Center, Brookline, MA this Thursday the 7th of December 2025 at 7:30 PM and in New York on the Sunday the 7th of December 2025 at 7:00 PM at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at the WTC.
A Special Invitation from Fr. Andreas Vithoulkas Vicar of the Shrine
Fr. Andreas Vithoulkas, Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne and Archiepiscopal Vicar and the Parish Council of the Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine, warmly invites all faithful, pilgrims, and friends of the Shrine to partake in the three-day Festivities for the Feast of Saint Nicholas, the Patron Saint of the Shrine and protector of the Nation.
The celebrations extend across the entire Saint Nicholas Weekend and culminate with the Christmas cultural offering Christmas at the Castle on Sunday evening. The complete schedule is as follows:
Three-Day Saint Nicholas Weekend Festivities
Friday, Dec. 5
- Great Vespers – 7:00 PM
- Followed by the traditional Skinos Reception in fellowship and gratitude
Saturday, Dec. 6 – Feast Day of Saint Nicholas
- Hierarchical Divine Liturgy – 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM; presided over by His Grace Bishop Nektarios of Diokleia
Sunday, Dec. 7
- Sunday Divine Liturgy – 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM
- Christmas at the Castle – 7:00 PM; the concluding event of the weekend and the cultural jewel of this year’s celebrations
Fr. Andreas extends his heartfelt invitation to all: “Come and join us as we honor our Patron Saint with prayer, fellowship, joy, and the beauty of faith-filled music. May these three days lift our spirits and prepare our hearts for the coming of our Lord.”
With these celebrations and the culminating performance of Christmas at the Castle, the Shrine continues its mission as both a cenotaph of memory and a beacon of hope, uniting culture, tradition, and Orthodox faith at the World Trade Center.
Tickets can be purchased here.
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