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On Wednesday, October 28, the School of Byzantine Music, a national ministry of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, celebrated its first diploma program graduates with a concert entitled “Grace and Praise” in the chapel of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA. The evening honored the next generation of Byzantine cantors and their commitment to the sacred musical tradition of the Church.
The concert followed the School’s Psaltikon pilgrimage to Thessaloniki and Mount Athos in July 2026, an educational and spiritual initiative organized in collaboration with the Holy Metropolis of Thessaloniki. The pilgrimage and this diploma honor event were generously funded by Leadership 100. In Greece, participants took part in workshops in the Psaltic Art, liturgical services, and conservatory sessions, including examinations, immersing themselves in the living tradition of Byzantine chant.
> Previously: HCHC, School of Byzantine Music participate in pilgrimage to Thessaloniki and Mt. Athos
Before the concert, Protopresbyter Romanos Karanos, Ph.D., Adjunct Assistant Professor of Byzantine Liturgical Music and Director of the Byzantine Music Program at Holy Cross, welcomed participants and guests to campus and shared his personal experiences from the July pilgrimage. He spoke of the growing interest among students in Byzantine music and the increasing number of budding cantors in America, thanks to initiatives such as these. He concluded by congratulating the graduates on their achievement.
The Director of the School of Byzantine Music, Archon Georgios Theodoridis, also congratulated the graduates. He credited the success of the Psaltikon pilgrimage to His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros and to the continuing support of Leadership 100.
Special appreciation was extended to His Eminence Metropolitan Philotheos of Thessaloniki and the Holy Metropolis of Thessaloniki for their support and hospitality. All gratefully acknowledged the Educational and Cultural Institute of the Metropolis of Thessaloniki and its director, the Very Reverend Archimandrite Cheruveim Tsinoglou.
The concert was both a celebration of academic achievement and a testament to the enduring importance of Byzantine chant as the living musical tradition of Orthodox worship. A highlight of the evening was the participation of both the Doxologia Choir, led by Fr. Cheruveim, and the School of Byzantine Music Choir, who performed hymns from the service of Great Vespers. Each graduate also had the opportunity to share their individual musical gifts through solo performances, demonstrating the fruits of years of study, dedication, and service to the Psaltic Art.
After the concert, Fr. Cheruveim offered closing remarks. He thanked His Eminence Metropolitan Philotheos of Thessaloniki and His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros for their blessings and fatherly love, and he thanked School of Byzantine Music Director Georgios Theodoridis for a great collaboration.
As a national ministry of the Archdiocese, the School of Byzantine Music equips music ministry leaders and workers for building up the body of Christ. Through its educational programs, partnerships, and international collaborations, the School continues to fulfill that mission by equipping and educating Byzantine cantors for the Church in America and preparing them to serve their parishes with knowledge, humility, and ecclesiastical devotion.
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