2014 Oli Mazi Newsletter

Transcription

OLI MAZI
February2014
Your guide to
Faith, Dance, and Fellowship
#FDF2014
www.yourFDF.org
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In this issue:
Welcome Letter from His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos 2
Letter from His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios
3
Letter from Congressman Edward R. Royce
4
Welcome to our Guest Hierarchs
5
Welcome Letter from Fr. Gary Kyriacou
7
Letter from the 2014 Managing Director
8
Metropolis News- Strategic Plan to Chart New Course for Metropolis
9
Metropolis Philoptochos News
10
Memorials
11
Metropolis Calendar Of Events
12
Metropolitan Anthony Humanitarian Award
13
Elios Society Award of Excellence
15
“Theres An App for That!”
16
Diakonia
18
Workshops
20
Congratulations!
23
A Thracian Treasure from a Young Greek American
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Social Media Shoutout
24
Friday Night Glendi Musicians + Margarita!
26
Glykeria
28
Youth and Young Adult Ministries Update
30
St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival
31
Summer is Back!
32
Greek Village Immersion Camp
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Ionian Village
36
Judge Bios
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What’s New?
Get connected! As a parallel to our
theme this year, we are launching
an FDF app! Find the app by
searching “Greek Orthodox Folk
Dance & Choral Festival” in the app
store. Available on iOS and Android
products! (Available for Windows
and Blackberry via web browsing.)
#ThrowBackThursday! For the past
4 weeks, we’ve asked you to share
your favorite FDF memories via
social media. Check some of our
favorites out on page 24.
Glykeria in concert! Legendary
Glykeria will be performing an
exclusive FDF performance.
A sit-down awards banquet is
back! In the past few years, venue
constraints meant that we had to
separate dinner from our awards
program. However, this year
we’ve been able to secure the
neighboring convention center to
host our full Sunday Night Dinner &
Awards Banquet!
[email protected]
/FOLKDANCEFESTIVAL
@YOURFDF
@YOURFDF
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February 13, 2014
Aquilla & Priscilla the Apostles
Beloved in the Lord,
“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another….”
I John 1:7
I greet you with joy in the Lord as we gather for yet another
wonderful weekend of Faith, Dance, and Fellowship at the 38th
Annual Folk Dance and Choral Festival in Anaheim, California.
During these next three days together, we will have many
opportunities to share time in fellowship, prayer, and Christian unity.
We are honored to welcome His Eminence Metropolitan Elpidophoros of Bursa to FDF for the first
time. Metropolitan Elpidophoros is the Abbot of the Holy Patriarchal and Stavropegial Monastery of
the Holy Trinity on the island of Halki, and is also the Dean of the Halki Theological School, which
was forcibly closed by the Turkish government over 42 years ago. Metropolitan Elpidophoros has been
a strong voice for the reopening of this important theological institution and for the religious freedom
of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
His Eminence Metropolitan Nikitas of the Dardanelles will also be visiting FDF for the first time.
Metropolitan Nikitas previously served as the first Metropolitan of Hong Kong from 1997 – 2007.
He grew up as a dancer in Tarpon Springs, Florida, and he has tremendous knowledge, respect and
love for the preservation and perpetuation of our Hellenic culture. Metropolitan Nikitas presently
serves as the Director of the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute in Berkeley, CA.
The presence of these two distinguished hierarchs underscores our connection to the Ecumenical
Patriarchate as the foundation of our faith and culture, which are essential to our spiritual development
and witness to the world. It is now up to us to connect our faith with our actions so that all that we do
emulates a holy Orthodox Christian life. Walking in the light of Christ and following His
commandments is not always an easy road, but it is one with everlasting rewards.
Let us strive to connect our Orthodox Christian values to all aspects of our lives and allow God to
work in us and through us so that we may be instruments for His glory!
With Love in Christ,
Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco
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Welcome to our Guest Hierarchs!
His Eminence Metropolitan of Bursa and Exarch of Bithynia was born in 1967 in Bakirköy, Istanbul. He studied at the Department of Pastoral Theology, Theological School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, from which he graduated in 1991. In 1993, he finished his postgraduate
studies at the Philosophical School of the University of Bonn, Germany submitting a dissertation
entitled, “The Brothers Nicholas and John Mesarites”. He was ordained a Deacon in 1994 at the
Patriarchal Cathedral and was appointed as the Codecographer of the Holy and Sacred Synod.
In 1995, he was appointed Deputy Secretary of the Holy and Sacred Synod. From 1996-1997
he studied at the Theological School of St. John the Damascene in Balamand, Lebanon, where
he improved his knowledge of the Arabic language. In 2001, he presented a doctoral dissertation at the Theological School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki under the title: “Severus
of Antioch and the Council of Chalcedon” proclaiming him a Doctor of Theology. In 2004, he
was invited to Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Boston, where he taught as a visiting professor for one
semester. In March 2005, at the proposal of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, he was promoted by
the Holy and Sacred Synod to the position of Chief Secretary and was ordained to the priesthood by the Ecumenical
Patriarch in the Patriarchal Cathedral. In 2009, he submitted two dissertations to the Theological School of Thessaloniki
and was unanimously elected Assistant Professor of Symbolics, Inter-Orthodox Relations and the Ecumenical Movement.
The dissertations are entitled: “The Synaxis’s of the Hierarchy of the Ecumenical Throne (1951-2004)” and “Luther’s
Ninety-five Thesis. Historical and Theological aspects. Text - Translation - Commentary “. In March 2011, he was elected
Metropolitan of Bursa and in August of the same year was appointed Abbot of the Holy Patriarchal and Stavropegial
Monastery of the Holy Trinity on the island of Chalki. He has served as the Orthodox Secretary of the Joint International Commission for the Theological Dialogue between the Orthodox Church and the Lutheran World Federation and
as a member of the Patriarchal delegations to the General Assemblies of the Conference of European Churches and the
World Council of Churches. He was the Secretary of the Pan-Orthodox Synods in Sofia (1998), Istanbul (2005), Geneva (2006), and Istanbul (2008). He has been a member of the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of
Churches since 1996.
His Eminence Metropolitan Nikitas of the Dardanelles was born in 1955 in Tampa, Florida where
he was raised with his brother, John. A member of Savant, the University of Florida Honors
Society, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with Honors from the University in 1976. He is
listed in the Who’s Who of American Colleges and Universities in 1975 and 1979. Metropolitan
Nikitas attended Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA where he
received his Master of Divinity with Honors in 1980. He was a Rotary International Graduate
Scholar from 1980 – 1981 and a Graduate Scholar, Ministry of the Exterior, Greece, from 1981
– 1982. He pursued his graduate studies at the University of Thessaloniki, Greece, until November 1982. He further studied the Russian language at the St. Petersburg Theological Seminary in
St. Petersburg, Russia from late 1992 through mid-1993.
His Eminence Metropolitan Nikitas’ first assignment upon ordination was Associate Pastor at
Saints Constantine and Helen Cathedral in Merriville, Indiana. He remained at the Cathedral until 1987 at which time he became the Chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Chicago, Illinois. During his tenure
as Chancellor from 1987 to 1995, he was involved in numerous educational, community service and interfaith activities
including: Lecturer in Orthodox Christianity; Teaching theology at Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, from 1988 to
1991; Member, Board of Directors, the Hellenic Foundation (1989 – present); Member, Board of Directors, the Hellenic
Museum (1991 – 1992); Teen Living Program Volunteer (1990 - 1992) and Volunteer of the Year, Teen Living Program
(1992); Member, Executive Committee, National Workshop – Relations between Christians and Jews (1991); Member,
Steering Committee, 32nd Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress. In 1994, he was appointed Director of Development for the
International Orthodox Christian Charities and on July 1, 1995, he became Pastor of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox
Church in Chicago, Illinois. On Saturday, December 14, 1996, His Eminence Metropolitan Nikitas was consecrated a
Hierarch and named Metropolitan of Hong Kong and South East Asia. This historic event took place in the Patriarchal
Cathedral of St. George the Great Martyr, Phanar, Istanbul. He was enthroned as the first Metropolitan of Hong Kong
and South East Asia (the Exarchates of China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore) on Sunday, January 12,
1997 at the Cathedral of St. Luke the Evangelist in Hong Kong. In March of 2007, His Eminence Metropolitan Nikitas
was appointed Director of the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute in Berkeley, California. Metropolitan Nikitas
serves as the Chair of the Patriarchal Committee on Youth, just as he represents the Patriarch on the Steering Committee
of the Elijah Foundation, an international committee on interfaith dialogue. His Eminence Metropolitan Nikitas is fluent
in English, Greek and Russian and has a working knowledge of Latin, Church Slavonic and Spanish.
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voula
pam
alexandra
john
Connect!
By Fr. Gary Kyriacou
FDF Chairman
FDF stands for Folk Dance Festival and we also commonly use it to stand for Faith, Dance, Fellowship, so FDF is both the name and motto of this ministry
and this weekend. Our theme this year is CONNECT because FDF is a fantastic opportunity to connect with old friends, new people, our culture, our
religion, God and each other.
maria
But CONNECT has also come to mean being tied in to technology, and connected we are! Through our laptops, phones and other handheld devices
we’re connected to the Internet, to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. We can instantly connect to information, entertainment and friends and family
even if they are thousands of miles away. Being connected seems vital and valuable to us; in the short time this technology has been available, we
have come to rely on it and treat it with a reverence bordering on obsession.
Connecting through technology is a huge benefit, but it can also be a distraction. We may be communicating and connecting through our devices while
ignoring and neglecting important people and events right in front of us. It’s easy to forget that technology is supposed to give us more time, not take
up all our time. Ironically, it is now necessary to dis-connect from technology in order to make true connections the old-fashioned way.
irene
pete
cathy
manoli
evangelia
vaso
elizabeth
danielle
john
alex
kristina
kathrine
vasili
#FDF2014
konstantino
anthony
christine
christa
Welcome to
george
christine
taki
anysia
tj
yianni
maro
We have all put plenty of time, treasure and talent toward getting to this weekend and this place. Let’s honor our hard work and open ourselves up
to true connection; with God, with Orthodoxy, with Greek culture, and most of all, with each other. Connecting to each other as Christians is also
connecting to God and His Word.
“Where two or three have come together in
my name, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18:20)
If we take a moment to unplug, and reflect upon the importance of our connection to Christ, every aspect of our life will profit greatly. In John 10:10,
Christ explains, “I came that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.” Let’s honor what Christ did for us by putting aside our devices and
taking time to connect. Let’s see our devices for what they really are, tools, and make sure our reverence is not for them, but for our Living God.
FDF provides us with an opportunity to grow closer to each other,
to meet other Orthodox Christians from around the world, and to
strengthen our relationship with Christ. You can send your emails,
text messages, and post to Facebook and Instagram; FDF has even
created an app to make it easier to connect to us! But make sure
this kind of connection is secondary to truly being present for this
weekend of opportunities and unity. This life-giving experience only
comes around once a year; for some, it is once-in-a-lifetime. Take time
to unplug in order to truly CONNECT.
spero
paul
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#yourFDF
Management Team
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metropolis news
Strategic Plan Charts Dynamic Course for the Future
#connectFDF
By Christine Alexopoulos
FDF 2014 Managing Director
Welcome to the 38th Greek Orthodox Folk Dance and Choral Festival at the Anaheim Marriott!
2014 marks another amazing year as we CONNECT over 2300 participants, more than 40 parishes, and 9 states together under one roof for 4 days of Faith, Dancing, and Fellowship (wow)!
This wouldn’t be possible without the help of our wonderful Management Team. I am truly honored and thankful to have had the pleasure of working with these accomplished individuals, who
have shared their God-given talents to help produce yet another successful FDF. The success of
FDF is also proven through the continued support and love of our participants...YOU!
As we take time this weekend to connect to family and friends (new and old), remember to connect
to what has brought us all here - our Faith. To quote the wise words spoken from a young 2013
FDF participant, “With God we are unstoppable.”
We ask that you carry this year’s theme with you every day, and continue to CONNECT and
strengthen your relationship with Christ. This year will be one for the books!
Congratulations to the AGAPE Dancers!
Thank you for representing our Parish with pride!
Continue to Glorify Christ in all that you do!
We appreciate the efforts of our Dance Directors Pres. Christie Kyriacou and Christina Joannou
and our dancers: Natalie Joannou, Elena Kyriacou, Harrison Kyriacou, Jacob Kyriacou, Gavin
Martinez, Rhianne Martinez, Angela Mira, Valentina Mira, Kiveli Padelides, Sophia Papanicolaou,
Alex Qutami, Adam Sanderson.
With Great Love,
Fr. Gary Kyriacou, The Parish Council and the Entire Community
St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
Mailing Address: PO Box 1970, Camarillo, CA 93011
Physical Address: 3100 Ponderosa Drive, Camarillo, CA 93010
(805) 482-1273
www.saintdem.org
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To have the daily scripture readings, hourly prayers, parish events and updates about our building project, please
download our free parish app from the Apple Store: St. Demetrios Church or use our QR code.
Every successful group including churches periodically assesses where it is, where it wants to be and how it will get
there. With faith and love in Jesus Christ, the Metropolis
of San Francisco accepted this challenge and embarked
on the process of formu- lating a Strategic Plan during the
summer of 2012. A committee of 50 clergy and lay leaders from throughout the diverse geography of the Metropolis participated in two in-depth planning retreats during
which the core of the Strategic Plan was developed. The
outcome has provided a cohesive and visionary road map to ensure that the Metropolis is proceeding methodically
with its work, and that it is being proactive in developing meaningful programs and ministries for the spiritual, educational, and social edification of its faithful. Through a disciplined process, a detailed analysis was conducted of the
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) of the Metropolis and reaffirmed the Mission of the Archdiocese and Metropolis which is to:
The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco
welcomes all people with joy, peace and love on
their journey to theosis and salvation through
churches that save, heal, preach the
Gospel and guide the faithful.
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Proclaim the Gospel
of Christ.
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Teach and spread the
Orthodox Christian Faith.
{
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Energize, cultivate, and guide the life of the Church in the United
States of America according to the Orthodox Christian Faith and Tradition.
The identification and articulation of the Core Values of the Metropolis were also integral to this process, as these
guide the overall work of the Metropolis to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ:
Core Values
1. Christ-centered
These Core Values then led to the development of a
Vision Statement for the Metropolis, and after thorough
2. Active participation in sacramental life
and extensive analysis, prayerful reflection and consen3. Education
sus-driven discussions, the Strategic Planning Commit4. Integrity, transparency and accountability
tee unanimously embraced the following “SWEEPing”
5. Stewardship
Vision:
6. Outreach and evangelism
Metropolis of San Francisco Vision
7. Inclusiveness and engagement
8. Courage
9. Communications using all media
10. Minister to all generations and strengthen our
families and relationships
EDUCATION &
PHILANTHROPIC
STEWARDSHIP
WORSHIP
11. Financial responsibility
EVANGELISM
OUTREACH
SWEEP
Using the Core Values as a guide along with the detailed results of the SWOT analysis, the following 11 Task Forces
were formed. Over the past year, they have developed detailed Strategic Objectives and Action Plans for the implementation of their respective areas:
1. Education
4. Philanthropic Outreach
2. Liturgical Life
5. Stewardship
3. Missions and Evangelism 6. Youth
7. Specialized Ministries – Wellness
8. Communications
9. Finances
10. Metropolis Organization and Development
11. Parish Organization and Development
The Strategic Plan will become the basis for the work of the Metropolis Council and its committee infrastructure. It will
also be the focus of the Metropolis Clergy-Laity Assemblies which will facilitate gatherings of the teams working on
each Strategic Goal, and then sharing their reports with the delegates regarding their progress, successes and challenges. The Strategic Plan will be made available both in hard copy, as well as published on the Metropolis website so
that it is a working resource for all our faithful to engage them in this process and encourage their active support and
participation in this plan.
Now the real work begins as the Metropolis prioritizes its efforts and works diligently to achieve the blueprint created
by the Strategic Plan that provides an exciting road map to achieve its sacred destiny. There is no end to what we can
achieve if we work together for God’s Glory and as faithful stewards of His Holy Orthodox Church.
Visit the Metropolis website: www.sanfran.goarch.org for more in-depth information on the Strategic Plan and how you
can get involved today!
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Metropolis Philoptochos 2013 – 2015 Metropolis Philoptochos Board:
1 (Seated): Presvytera Evelyn Adams, Mari Lou Diamond – Corresponding Secretary, Agatha Felactu – 1st Vice President, Jeannie Ranglas –
Continues Legacy Of Row
President, Michele Genetos – 2nd Vice President, Mary Lofton – Chapter Liaison, Lisa Xanthos – Recording Secretary.
2: Judie Christopoulos, Bobbie Soupos, Patricia Aleck, Connie Ralph, Elaine Kanellos, Elaine Wright, Sophie Mastor, Rose Sogotis, Mary Peros,
Service And Philanthropy Row
Kristina Mehas, Mary Pruitt, Gloria Vincent.
Jeannie Ranglas,
Metropolis Philoptochos President
Row 3: Archimandrite Apostolos Koufallakis, Chancellor; His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos.
Not Pictured: Bernadette Anthony, Frances Bissias – Honorary Member, Kathy Gabriel – Assistant Treasurer, Tula Gallanes – Honorary Past President,
Diana Jianas – Treasurer, Genie Kontos, Christine Peratis – Honorary Past President, Valerie Roumeliotes – Honorary Past President.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:10
Philoptochos has a history of more than 80 years of devoted service to those who are in need. Within the
Metropolis of San Francisco, Philoptochos is a dynamic movement which includes 56 chapters and over
4,000 members who are committed to helping others through care, compassion, philanthropy and love.
With the guidance and leadership of His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos, the Metropolis Philoptochos
is a proud partner in many important endeavors which further the mission and vision of the Metropolis and
support and strengthen our communities.
The Metropolis Philoptochos encompasses many areas of service including: Kids ‘n’ Cancer Camp Agape,
Bishop Anthony Philoptochos Student Aid Endowment Fund, Philoptochos Lodge at Saint Nicholas Ranch,
Hellenic College/Holy Cross Adopt-a-Student, Women’s Health and Wellness, Social Services/Emergency
Relief, and Pennies and Prayers. Each of these ministries reaches people of different ages with diverse challenges, but with one common thread – need.
may their memory be eternal!
2004 +His Eminence Metropolitan 2009 Rhonda Eleni Gadinas
Anthony of Blessed Memory
2009 John Gianakopoulos
1997 Paul Ginis
2013 Fr. Nicholas Andrews
2009 Dimitri Simvoulakis
1994 Soula Kunelis 2013 Fr. Demetrius Dogias
2006 Tasia Tsobanoudis
1994 Manolis Abazis This is where Philoptochos is committed to making a difference. For all those in need – whether it is a child
with a terminal illness; young men studying for the priesthood; mission parishes striving to build up new
Orthodox communities; people struggling with unemployment or homelessness; Philoptochos gives from the
heart and gives unconditionally as an example of their commitment of service to others.
2012 Fr. James Diavatis
2006 Jivko Bebelekov
1993 Jim Markus 2012 Fr. Anthony Tomaras
2004 Anthony Forakis
1993 Chris Tasulis 2012 Fr. John Asimacopoulos
2002 John Papadoupoulos
1992 Spiro Pathos 2011 Fr. Anthony Moschonas
2002 Hariklia Frangos
1992 Katerina Perivoliotis With the upcoming implementation of the new Metropolis Strategic Plan, the work of Philoptochos will be
elevated even more. The Task Force on Philanthropic Outreach will provide even greater opportunities to
expand the ministry of Philoptochos and engage even more women – and men – in this important work.
Philoptochos has been the torchbearer for our Church in their ministry and has been the primary source
of philanthropy in our church and civic communities. We are excited about the possibilities that can be
achieved when even more people become inspired and involved in this fulfilling ministry.
2011 Fr. Theophilos Theophilos
2001 Kathy Trapp
1988 Bill Angeles 2007 Fr. Efstathios Mylonas
2000 Anna Efstathiou
1988 Ted Petrides 1995 Fr. Leonidas C. Contos
2000 Vilma Matchette
1986 Dora Stratou 1993 Fr. A. Homer Demopulos
2000 Jim Papangellin 1980 Christos Papadimitrakis
2013 Mary (Maria) Kakavulias
1999 Elizabeth Angelis 1989 Chris Tsantilas
2012 Mary Vouras
1999 Fisher Theodore Harper 1979 Cynthia Anderson
2012 Donald K. Hiatt
1999 Ian Joseph Harper 2011 Panos Angels 1999 Katherine Velthoen 2010 Athan Karras
1998 John P. Angel 2010 Dennis Boxell
1998 Sonia Spachis
Each of us has been created in the image of Christ, to do good works and to walk in His path. We invite
you to join us for this journey where the impossible can be achieved with the help of God!
www.sfphiloptochos.org
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2010 Maria Kalmantis
1997 Kim Efstathiou 1994 Nick Varvitsiotis 11
Metropolis Calendar
of Events
2014
February 23-24
Metropolis Council Meeting
Saint Nicholas Ranch and Retreat
Center - Dunlap, CA
May 29- June1
Metropolis Philoptochos
Kids ‘n’ Cancer Camp Agape
Prescott, AZ
August 28-31
Camp Marston – Julian, CA
February 24-25
Metropolis Clergy-Laity Assembly
Center - Dunlap, CA
June 12-15
Center - Dunlap, CA
September 8
The Twelve Great Feasts Through
Icons and Hymns – Part I
Online Metropolis Webinar
February 25-26
Metropolis Clergy Retreat
Center - Dunlap, CA
March 8-9
Pan-Orthodox Celebration of the
Sunday of Orthodoxy
Saint Steven’s Serbian Orthodox
Cathedral - Alhambra, CA
March 14-16
Metropolis Young Adult Lenten Retreat
Malibu, CA
March – April 2014
Metropolis Lenten Online Book Club
June 21-28
Center - Dunlap, CA
June 26-29
Metropolis Church Music Federation
Conference
Ascension Greek Orthodox
Cathedral - Oakland, CA
July 6-12
Metropolis Summer Camp – Session I
Center - Dunlap, CA
September 15
The Twelve Great Feasts Through
Icons and Hymns – Part II
Online Metropolis Webinar
September 15-19
Metropolis Adult Resort Camp
Center - Dunlap, CA
November 10-13
Pan-Orthodox Clergy Retreat
Center - Dunlap, CA
November 22
Light the Path - Metropolis
July 13-19
Philoptochos Christmas
April 27
Metropolis Summer Camp – Session II Luncheon
Hellenic Cultural Parade
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
San Francisco, CA
Center - Dunlap, CA
Mary Greek Orthodox
Church – Long Beach, CA
May 2-3
July 20-26
Metropolis Oratorical Festival
Metropolis Summer Camp – Session III December 6
Light the Path - Metropolis
Center - Dunlap, CA
Center - Dunlap, CA
Philoptochos Christmas
Luncheon
May 4
July 21-26
Saint Basil Greek Orthodox
Metropolis Philoptochos Kids ‘n’ Cancer Metropolis Philoptochos
Church – Stockton, CA
Spring Reception
Big Canyon Country Club - Newport
All Saints Camp – Gig Harbor, WA
Beach, CA
August 2-7
May 23-26
Metropolis Family Camp
Camp Angelos – Portland, OR
Center - Dunlap, CA
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Metropolitan Anthony
Humanitarian Award
Gerry and Jeannie Ranglas
The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco is pleased to honor Gerry and Jeannie Ranglas as the 2014 recipients of the Metropolitan Anthony Humanitarian Award. The Ranglas’ have demonstrated their love for the Church and
their support for the community through many years of exemplary philanthropy.
Gerry and Jeannie have offered of their time, talent and treasure as outstanding stewards at the parish, Metropolis
and Archdiocese levels as well as to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. They are founding members of the Saints Constantine
and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Cardiff- by-the-Sea, California where they remain active parishioners and benefactors of the community. Gerry and Jeannie are also members of the Archbishop Iakovos Leadership 100 Endowment
Fund. In the Metropolis, Gerry and Jeannie have supported many ministries including the Monastery of the Theotokos
the Life-Giving Spring, Saint Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center, Faith Forward, and were Premier Sponsors of the
inaugural Metropolis Gala in 2013 which Jeannie co-chaired. The Ranglas’ have also been exceptional supporters
of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and have provided for the needs of our Mother Church through their generosity, and
were sponsors and participants in the Metropolis Pilgrimage, “Journey of Faith: East and West” to Rome, Athens and
Constantinople in 2010.
Gerry was born in Athens, Greece and moved to San Diego as a young child. He grew up attending Saint Spyridon
Greek Orthodox Church and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business from San Diego State University. He
is the CEO and Owner of R&V Management Corporation, a real estate, investment and management firm for over 30
years. In honor of Gerry’s devotion to the Church, he was bestowed the honor of Archon Depoutatos by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Most recently, Gerry was appointed as a member of the Leadership 100 Board of Trustees.
Jeannie was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois to parents of Greek ancestry. She moved to San Diego when she
married Gerry 37 years ago. Jeannie is currently in her fourth year serving as the Metropolis of San Francisco
Philoptochos President, a leading ministry with innovative programs including Kids ‘n’ Cancer and the Bishop Anthony
Philoptochos Student Aid Endowment Fund. She has also been a member of the National Philoptochos Board for the
Archdiocese for 15 years. Jeannie served as co-chair of the National Philoptochos Convention in Phoenix, Arizona
during the 2012 Clergy-Laity Congress of the Archdiocese. Her service at her local parish has included Parish Council
President, Philoptochos President, and President of the Cardiff Orthodox Housing. Jeannie chaired the Thyranoixia
and Consecration of Saints Constantine and Helen, and was also recognized for her leadership with the Anthousa
Award from the Saint Spyridon Philoptochos in San Diego.
Gerry and Jeannie’s philanthropy extends into the civic community as the primary donors for the establishment of the
Ancient Greek History Chair at the University of California San Diego in 2005. This position provides for excellence in
education on Greek philosophy, literature and classics, and leaves a lasting legacy of their family’s dedication to their
Hellenic heritage. Jeannie was also recognized by the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary with the Women of Dedication award for her community service and leadership.
As the proud parents of Athan (32) and Alexis (28), Gerry and Jeannie are committed to maintaining a strong family
life, and instilling in their children the importance of service to others. Both Athan and Alexis grew up participating in
the dance group at their parish and competing in FDF, and they remain active supporters of the Church.
“Gerry and Jeannie are cherished friends and stewards of the church who have continually offered their gifts with
faith, love and tireless commitment. They give of themselves with exceptional generosity as a demonstration of their
devotion and service to Jesus Christ,” stated His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco. “They were also
very close friends of His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony, of blessed memory, and I know that he would be pleased
that their years of dedication and philanthropy are being duly recognized as the 2014 recipients of the Metropolitan
Anthony Humanitarian Award.”
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Award of Excellence
Christ J. Kamages, AIA
The Elios Charitable Foundation is proud to present
Christ J. Kamages
the 2014 Elios Award of Excellence
&
the 2014 Folk Dance & Choral Festival
with a grant for the 19th consecutive year
With the support of Elios Society members and Hellenic Charity Ball sponsors and attendees,
the Elios Charitable Foundation was able to provide grants to the following organizations this past year:
Center for Tebtunis Papyri at the University of California, Berkeley
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco for the Ambassadors Program
Folk Dance & Choral Festival
Greek Cultural Parade on April 7, 2013
Greek Historical Society of the Bay Area for Project Istoria
Hellenic Heritage Institute in San Jose
The Hellenic Journal
Hellenic Library Research Fellowship Program at Sacramento State University
Los Angeles Greek Film Festival
Modern Greek Studies Foundation for the San Francisco Greek Film Festival
Modern Greek Studies Program at San Francisco State University for a Visiting Professor
Elios Charitable Foundation
Dedicated to Preserving and Promoting the Spirit and Ideals of Hellenic Culture
www.elios.org | www.facebook.com/EliosCharitableFoundation
Christ Kamages builds faith. Architecture is spiritual work for him. This began at 14 years of age. The deep Christian
Orthodox traditions of the Kamages family led Christ to consider a career in the priesthood. But an apprenticeship with
Christopher Kantianis, AIA, in Boston in the 1960’s exposed him to architecture, design and Byzantine theories and
styles. An MIT science fair award for Byzantine Architecture, where he elegantly demonstrated how to place a round
dome on a square base, permanently sealed his career and life mission.
He grew up at St. George Cathedral in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he was a member of the St. George Olympians Drum and Bugle Corp. Kamages’ undergraduate work at the Boston Architectural Center has exposed to the
design methods and process architecture. Community work in architecture arose from Master’s studies at the State
University of New York at Buffalo. The “Buffalo Experiments”, as they were known, created a visionary design methods
group which held architects responsible to serve civilization by concentrating on user needs and hands-on work with
clients. He also taught undergraduate and graduate architectural design and process at SUNY-Buffalo in the 1970’s.
He has since become a guiding force as principal in a series of architecture firms such as Cannon Design, Inc. Grand
Island NY and in Boston MA. The 1980’s saw Kamages move to San Francisco, where his tenure as the Director of at
The Ehrenkrantz Group in San Francisco reinforced the process and methods foundation for design and also expanded
the community focus with successful civic projects, like the Pasadena Police Department Building which won an AIA
Architecture in Justice Award in 2002. Kamages acquired the firm created EKONA Architecture and Planning, and
expanded his work to church projects. The firm’s development today, as CJK Design Group, has multi-million dollar
projects throughout the United States.
Kamages has truly advanced the profession of architecture by achieving that synthesis between the rational, analytical
aspects of building design and the emotional and cultural forces of community interaction in the design and construction process. This has led to overwhelming success in working with hundreds of Orthodox communities to inspire them
with his passion for a rebirth of the true Eastern spirit where traditional church sacred space is essential and vital to
community life. He collaborated with the late V. Rev. Leonidas Contos on the publication of Ecclesia, A Facilities and
Artifacts Handbook, a guide to church communities to help them better understand the planning and design process.
Kamages has gone on to develop unique church designs such as the Axios, an expandable prototype for growing
mission parishes, and the copyrighted Triad design, which uses the beautiful Byzantine principles while optimizing the
seating capacity, sight lines, and programmatic functions of an Orthodox Church.
He served as Chairman of the Board of the Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute (PAOI) for 12 years, and as
a past member of the Metropolis Councils for the Metropolis of San Francisco and as a former member of the Archdiocesan Council. He is a founding member of the ELIOS Society and the Pan-Cretan Chapter of Polirinia of Marin,
California.
In 2000, His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew conferred Kamages with the offikion, Archon Architekton,
the first in history to bear this title, as recognition of his efforts in Ecclesiastical architecture. His church projects have
become national landmarks and have consistently garnered awards and have stimulated communication, spirit and
awareness
“The Elios Society salutes Christ Kamages as he deservingly is honored during this year’s FDF,” said Anthony Saris,
President of the Elios Society. “Christ embodies a commitment to both our Orthodox faith and Hellenism, and his lifelong acts of service are sincerely appreciated and worthy of emulation. AXIOS!”
14
He and his wife, Patricia reside in Lucas Valley, Marin, California and are members of the Nativity of Christ in Novato,
California, They are the parents of Keri and Peter, and are the proud grandparents of Nikolas and Alexis Kamages,
and Eleni and Katia Antonis.
15
#FDF2014 launches our first
ever smartphone application!
By Alexandra Schwenke, Management Team
Every year FDF is changing, and finding new ways
to make this weekend all about you. Well now..
There’s an
App for That...
With our new app, you can get more involved with
FDF than ever. All of the schedules for the weekend
can be found right on your phone. You can even
customize your own schedule focusing on the performances and events you’re most interested in.
We are so excited to bring all of you this new tool
and such a great way to stay connected! Have a
great weekend and stay tuned for more ways to
make FDF 2014 YOUR FDF!!
Search “Greek Orthodox Folk Dance and Choral Festival” in
your app store today! Or use your smartphones QR reader to
scan our QR code to download.
Available on iOS and Android platforms and is available for
Windows and Blackberry via web access.
16
The voice of the Greek community for over three decades!
Stay connected ... subscribe today for just $35 a year.
FDF SPECIAL: BRING THIS COUPON TO THE HJ BOOTH AND RECEIVE $5 OFF
Congratulations to the 2014 FDF dancers and singers!
Stop by the HJ / MY PAREA BOOTH at FDF and enter to
win 2 tickets to the Glykeria concert,
Mario Frangoulis concert, and more!
Subscribe Today!
WESTERN GREEK AMERICAN NEWS MONTHLY www.hellenicjournal.org
YES! Sign me up for
one year (12 issues)
of The Hellenic Journal
✔
✄
As you make new connections with participants
from all over the country, find them in the app and
add them to your friends list! Wondering who’s talking about FDF on Twitter? Right from the app view a
live feed of everything #yourFDF related!
W E S T E R N G R E E K A M E R I C A N N E W S M O N T H LY
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OR become a donor and
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17
1-877-939-3988 I hellenicjournal.org I www.facebook.com/hellenicjournal
St. Anthony, Pasedina. Holy Trinity, Portland. Singing Christmas
Serving meals at Union carols with the elderly in the community.
Station.
Diakonia
2014
St. Nectarios, Covina.
Children’s hospital, Night
Outreach Service.
St. Katherine, Redondo Beach: Pajama Drive
Project- For Children in the process of being
adopted.
Saints Constantine & Helen Cathedral of the
Pacific, Honolulu, HI. Created school kits for
IOCC and cleaned up Kailua Beach.
Ascension, Oakland. Collected money
and compiled hygiene kits for IOCC.
St.Demetrios, Seattle. Collected food
for the Woman’s Jubilee Center.
St. Sophia Cathedral, Los Angeles. Assumption, Long Beach.
Volunteered at the Jeffrey Foundation Collected toiletries to support
Christmas Party. the Long Beach Rescue
Mission.
Assumption, Long Beach.
Participated in a Christmas
card project for the local
veterans at the Long Beach
Veteran Medical Center.
18
St. Spyridon, San Diego.
Volunteered to dance at a
fundraiser for the feeding of
the hungry.
19
“Connect” is the theme for FDF this year. This can mean many different things for ourselves, our
relationship with God and with others. When you attend a 2014 FDF Workshop you will examine
this theme and surely take away with a better understanding of it, and ways to apply this theme to
your life.
While we would like to remind our readers that workshops are mandatory for all participants, the
goal of FDF workshops is to inspire and strengthen our faith in the spirit of fellowship. Attend one
and you will want to attend more!
“Hold on! We are on our way to connect to our home! “
with Fr. Jordan Brown
Hey young FDF Dancer! Hurry up and get ready to sing, dance, and
climb yourself down, for today God is coming to your house! We are
going to do whatever it takes to get back home with Christ. Zacchaeus
is going to help us.
“The Orthodox Avengers!” with Fr. Panagiotis Sotiras
In this workshop, we’re going to talk about Marvel’s very popular Avengers movie
and how it helps us better understand our Orthodox faith. If you love the Avengers,
or super-hero movies in general, then this workshop is for you!
“Living Life Inside Out” with Fr. Tom Zaferes
What do we believe, really believe about ourselves and God? Does it matter? We
will examine, together, what it is that we are to know about our faith and especially God. We will begin to address who we are and why we are here. And what
does that mean to the world around us? We will answer the question: Do we live
in a “hostile” world? Should we as Orthodox Christians feel threatened? Or does
everyone basically believe the same thing and we have nothing to worry about?
Finally do we have obligations to ourselves and the world around us?
20
“BACK PEW DUDE” with Father John Hondros
The well-dressed Greek Orthodox woman stood in the front pew and prayed thus to
herself: “Lord, I have been to Church from the time I was baptized. I know all the
prayers and Apolytikia in Greek, even better than Father. I follow all the fasts and
I receive Communion when I feel worthy. I have brought my kids to Church, to
Greek School and Folk Dance from the time they were little. I’m a tireless volunteer
and I donate what I feel my Church needs. I am a good person and I’m thankful
I’m not like that ‘Aplytos’ sitting in the back pew!”
Join us “Back Pew Dudes (and Dudettes)” as we take an eyebrow-raising look at
Luke 18:9-14.
“AFTER 25 YEARS OF YOUTH MINISTRY, I THINK I FINALLY
KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT! What the Church, the Bible,
Your Children, and Mine have taught me about Raising Our Kids in
the Orthodox Faith” with Fr. Anthony Savas
From the time our children are born and Baptized in the Greek Orthodox
Church, we have certain ideals and expectations about how their lives are going to play out. We envision their futures to be blessed with health, family, comfort and a solid grounding in the Church. As parents, we play the most crucial
role in our children’s spiritual development. Together, let’s discover how!
“Using Faith, Trust, and Communication to Help Your Dance Program Flourish” with
Stacie Zoumberakis and Nikole Varvitsiotis
Come and learn how different dance programs work and how both have
invested in their young dancers- mentoring them into directors that in turn
give back to the program.
Join us for a discussion of how two dance programs in Southern California
function and how their mentor program works. A Q&A will follow for anyone interested in helping their dance program thrive.
Directors
HIgh School
“Orthodoxy in Motion” with Fr. Jim Pappas
The primary age level children will engage in 7 Arts and Crafts activities each with it’s own spiritual theme. The children will do one outreach activity. In addition, they will create works of art
that can be brought home. The workshop is designed to be an open house format. Participants
can come at anytime during the posted hours. All participants are required to complete at least 2
projects. Doing all 7 will add to this creative and exciting experience.
“Red Rover, Red Rover” with Father Haralambos Fox
Where is the weakest link in your connection? Be careful - when the marauders come
to attack, that’s where they’ll strike! Come for some practical tips on beefing up your
Connection to Christ to withstand any assault…. Come prepared for some spiritual
AND physical activity (shoulderpads optional).
Parents
Middle School
Elementary
FDF would like to sincerely thank all of our workshop presenters this year for offering their time
and talents to FDF. How will the 2014 workshops “connect” you?
“Relationships in the Orthodox Faith” with Chris and Kali Retelas
“Dating and getting married is the easiest thing in the world to do! Even easier,
doing it in a way that is fulfilling, real, healthy, and truly Christian,” said no one
ever. However, as this is on our minds and hearts a lot more than we care to admit, come and join us, as we share our frustrations and humorous experiences with
one another. And together lets investigate what helpful insights and encouragements the ancient Orthodox witness might offer us in regards to this profoundly
important aspect of human life!
Young Adults
Every year the workshops at FDF continue to get better and better, and this year is no exception!
Again, we are offering workshops for elementary, middle school, high school students, and young
adults. We are also proud to announce that the workshops for parents are here to stay at FDF. So
parents, please take a break during the day and attend a parent workshop, where you will connect with other parents and be inspired by our faith.
HIgh School
FDF Workshops
“Summer is BACK!”
...well, at FDF anyway! For anyone who misses Summer
Camp, missed out on Summer Camp, or is just ready for
Summer Camp to be here already, we miss you too! So, let’s
make a reunion of out of it! If you’re in High School and want
to spend your workshop time with some of 2013’s Camp
Counselors and fellow-campers, grab your friends and join us
for a workshop Summer Camp-Style!
21
Steve Padis Jewelry
congratulates all the dancers at FDF 2014
Congratulations
Nick Metrakos & Anysia Dumont
Danielle Doumak & Panayioti Pelargos
Voula Kolios & Vasili Contos
"We've locked in our vote,
and you’re all winners!"
Engaged 2013
Engaged 2013
Married 2013
Congratulations to a few current Managment Team members that have recently gotten engaged or
married. This ministry has been blessed to see so many beautiful relationships bloom and we wish
them many happy years!
Did you meet your fiance or spouse through FDF?
Let us know by submitting your names to [email protected]
A Thracian Treasure from a
Young Greek American
Largest Selection of Diamonds
22
101 Utah Street Suite 201 | SF | CA 94103
www.PadisJewelry.com
888-500-GEMS (4367)
Smilemeni Pnoi is a new collectible CD presenting the music and
style of 82-year- old Theodosis Logaroudis, one of the last original
players of Thracian gaida from the village of Avestades, Evros,
Greece. The project was conceived, designed, financed, and
executed by Vicky Hioureas, member of the parish of Saint John
the Baptist in Anaheim. Vicky’s work in the field of cultural research and archiving is an outstanding achievement. Though various ethnomusicologists, gaitatzides, and interested parties have
recorded Logaroudis playing his gaida, no single project has yet
been produced to highlight his musical skill. This was the primary
impetus for Smilemeni Pnoi: to record and archive the singularity
of Logaroudis’ playing, and to showcase and honor a musician
who has the foresight to understand the importance of disseminating his sound to future generations of gaidatzides around the world. Vicky recorded Theodosis Logaroudis over the course of several days in his front
yard in his village in Evros, with her digital recorder. The rest of the production was completed in the city of
Thessaloniki. She has created a “sonic museum” of the highest quality that captures the beauty, variation
and depth of the playing technique of this great master of gaida. Smilemeni Pnoi will move and inspire the
enthusiasts of Greek Thracian folk music and dance in the US, in Greece and abroad. Vicky’s project offers
a great service to our community and to FDF, as she becomes a shining example for the younger generations of Greek-Americans for her devotion, passion, and creative and voluntary spirit.
Congratulations and thank you to Vicky Hioureas for her Smilemeni Pnoi.
*If you wish to acquire the CD, please contact Vicky at [email protected]
23
#commitment
#worship
#parea
#unite
#holy
#pray
#joy
#bless
#greek
#peace
#prayer
#sing
#sacrifice
24
#FDF2014
#communion
#horiolife #love
#fellowship
#sacred
#unify
#celebration
#renewing
#give
#strength
#trinity
#orthodox #havemercy
#prayer
#rejoice
#dedication
#family
#God
#wisdom
#together
#gospel
#share
#connect
#dance
#hellenism
@yourFDF
#we
#agapi
#christian
#parea
#HIM
social media shoutout
#praise
#belief
#fellowship
#faith
25
Featured Musicians:
Friday night Glendi
We are proud to announce a special guest appearance by Alexandros Papadakis
(lyra, askomantoura, vocal) and his ensemble, Georgios Psarakis (laouto, vocal)
and Andreas Arvanitis (laouto). Alexandros is an accomplished musician from
the island of Crete. In his earliest years, Alexandros was moved by the traditional
music of his native village, ardactos, which is located in the Lampi municipality of
Rethymno, Crete. He began his musical journey at
the age of nine. His uncle was the first to put a lyre in
his hand. He credits his learning to several teachers,
most notably Petros Karbadakis and Manolis Margaritis. While honing his craft, he surrounded himself
with local musicians, absorbed their magnificent stories and techniques, and dedicated his life to continuing age-old musical traditions. After years of dedication and continual discovery, Alexandros is a master
of the melodic lyre and he plays with undeniable spirit and love. Through his
passionate voice, commanding askomantoura (Cretan bag pipe), and delicate playing of the habioli (flute) he captivates his listeners.
Joining us from Athens Greece, Sotiris Lykidis on the lyra and Kostas Georgiadis on daouli will be playing
Pontian music for Thorivos from the Annunciation Modesto. Sotiris Lykidis grew up in Athens and began
playing the lyra at age 13. Playing the lyra was part of the family tradition, as his grandfather and father
also play. His father was his first teacher, and his first lyra was built by his grandfather. After learning from
his dad for a year Sotiri started working with the well known Georgos
Amarantidis at age 14, and continued taking lessons for four years.
Growing up with the sound of the lyra in the family made Sotiri’s appreciation and love grow for the instrument, and he acknowledges that
he continues to learn to this day. This is his fourth FDF. Kostas Georgiadis grew up in Thessaloniki Greece, and began playing the daouli at
the very young age of 8. His desire and love for the sound of the drum
made him a self taught musician. As he has pursued his dreams, he
has played with several different Pontian musicians and artists throughout all of Greece. He especially loves sharing his passion for Pontian
music, and the energy that it provides through the different dances.
This is his sixth FDF. As returning FDF participants, they are looking
forward to once again partaking in the festivities and excitement of
FDF.
Dromeno is a traditional ensemble presenting authentic regional music
from the Greek mainland and beyond, overlapping into the surrounding regions and finding the musical legacy that connects the traditions
of the Balkans. Featuring clarinet and voices, the instrumentation
includes accordion, saxophone, zourna, guitar, laouto and percussion, and enables the group to span the sounds of Greek music, from
western Macedonia and Ipiros, through Thessaly and Thrace. Dromeno will be joining us for our Friday night Glendi featuring Christos
Govetas on clarinet, zourna and vocals; Ruth Hunter on accordion
and vocals; Eleni Govetas on saxophone, defi and doumberleki; Nick
Maroussis on guitar and laouto; Bobby Govetas on drums and daouli;
and also Benji Rifate on trumpet.
Endasi is a Greek music ensemble comprised of Dimitri Papadimitriou (Atlanta), Yianni Themelis (New York)
and Dimitrios Dallas (Chicago). Endasi is not only a name, but the essence of how they approach and play
music – with intensity. Hailing from folk dance backgrounds, Endasi developed a deep love for traditional
Greek music and have since amassed a large repertoire ranging from traditional to modern Greek stylings. Endasi has played all over the U.S. and has participated for over 10 years at FDF, performing at night
events and in over 100 different shows for groups of all ages. They have just the right mix of music for your
next event. For more information, visit www.endasi.com.
Margarita is at it again!
Last year’s Greek/English rendition of Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger” got everyone
out of their seats, and this year she will capture your soles (no pun intended)
again with her new hot single, “OPA.” Collaborating with singer/songwriter
Leah Tysse and DJ Gus Sverkos under alias name HH (Homegrown Helens) her
dance inspired single will surely get you grooving.
“Music and dance are the most expressive ways to show emotion. That’s the reason we are united here in Anaheim with such force,” Margarita says with enthusiasm. “’OPA’ is not only a song, but a dance. It’s like shouting let it out! After a
long day of competition what’s better then throwing
your hands in the air and doing the ‘OPA’?”
Margarita will be hosting opening Ceremonies this year, and has the honor of
singing with the talented Glykeria for the second time in her career. Sunday’s
closing ceremonies will be full of fun and surprises as she recaps the weekend.
Look for her music on iTunes, CD Baby, her Facebook Page “Margarita Music
INTL.”
Follow her on her Twitter at @margaritaintl and her Youtube channel
Margaritaintl and visit her website at www.margaritaintl.com
27
1
Do you think that music and live
performances will always be a priority for Greeks even when they’re
going through tough times? Is it
one of their outlets?
By Gus Sverkos
For the past 30 years, Glykeria has been one of the most prominent and distinct voices of Greek music, filled with unmatched depth, melancholy and emotion. Her 2012 tour of the Americas, with sold-out shows in Canada, South America and the U.S.is a tribute to her worldwide fame, a status that extends beyond Greeks at home and in the diaspora
to the French, Israelis, Brazilians, Armenians, Argentinians and others who have heard her belt those powerful songs.
The 2014 Greek Folk Dance and Choral Festival is proud and excited to present legendary Greek singer Glykeria.
As part of our main entertainment for Saturday night, Glykeria will be performing live with her full orchestra in the
Platimum Ballroom.
Glykeria was born in Agio Pnevma Serres, and began her career in 1974 working in the Athens Plaka scene of the
boites and gave performances with well-known artists, singing songs by M. Hadjidakis, M. Theodorakis, M. Loizos
and others.
In 1983 she made a large leap into her distincive career with her live concert “Omorfi Nyhta” and due to its massive
success Lyra Music released her first live album,”H Glykeria Stin Omorfi Nyhta”,which went on to break every musical
sales record in Greece up to that point.
Glykeria has performed to audiences all over the world, from Argentina, to France, to Israel. In the summer of 1993
she performed in Israel for the first time and after many successful concerts she was proclaimed the most popular
foreign singer; the Mayor of Jerusalem awarded her the golden key of the city. She also performed with the Israel
Philharmonic in 1999 and released multiple albums which all went Gold.
We are are all filled with great joy and enthusiasm that this year’s FDF is hosting such an amazing talent. Glykeria truly
is “The voice of Greece” and we look forward to her performance this year.
28
Πιστευετε οτι ι μουσικη κ οι ζωντανες εμφανισεις
θα ειναι παντα προταιρεοτητα για τους Ελληνες,
ακομα και οταν περνανε δυσκολα; Ειναι η μονη
τους διεξοδος; Τι εχετε δει σαν καλλιτεχνης; Μιλαμε
για πολιτικη συνεχεια, αλλα τι εχετε δει απο τιν
πολιτιστικη πλευρα μετα απο την κριση;
Greeks live through music and socializing. My
opinion is socializing gives the person an opportunity to solve their problems. The economy
doesn’t get solved through socialization. It’s a
big issue right now. I believe Greece has a very
strong culture and will get through and continue
to listen to music and we will get through it.
3 questions for
the Voice of
Greece
2
When you go home to relax what
kind of music do you listen to?
Οταν πατε σπιτι να χαλαρωσετε τι μουσικη ακουτε;
Sentimental music, Byzantine music. It has colored all of Greek music to this day. It all comes
from the Byzantium, Anatolian music, The distinct
rhythms and harmonies of dance from Anatolian
and Pontic regions. The dancing; This music is
therapeutic.
3
Do you have English language singers
who influence your own music?
Υπαρχουν αγγλοφωνοι καλλιτεχνες που σας επιρεαζουν;
No, only Greek singers because I sing in Greece. Of course
when I was outside of Greece I was listening to other singers outside of Greece. But I really do love Greek music.
My original influences are Greek. And I’m in engaged in
Greece.
29
Metropolis Office of
Youth and Young Adult
Ministries
Ministering to our youth and young adults has never been more challenging. Our youth today are
so busy between school, sports, and extracurricular activities and of course, dance practice! Our
20-somethings are busy trying to establish themselves, whether in college or working. And our
30-somethings may be readjusting the plans they made for themselves in their 20’s because of the
economic realities of the past few years. With the increased complexities of life for our youth and
young adults, it has never been more important for them to have rock-solid understanding of and
faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For this reason the Metropolis Office of Youth and Young
Adult Ministries is working hard to expand its ministries, programs and resources for youth
workers.
We are all living and working in the mobile age, and the Metropolis Office of Youth and Young
Adult Ministries is committed to building up its presence on the internet. The website serves as a
unified place to connect our youth, young adults, clergy, youth-workers and parents throughout our
very geographically diverse Metropolis and will be a place for all to share their ideas. So please
check out the site!
www.gosfyouth.org
Check out the Youth and Young Adult Ministry website which will aim to keep everyone informed
of all Metropolis and Regional ministries and upcoming events taking place throughout the year!
Saint John Chrysostom
Oratorical Festival
The Saint John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival, started by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Department
of Religious Education in 1983, is an incredible opportunity for our children and teenagers to think about,
research, write and speak publicly about their faith. We all know that public speaking is a valuable skill.
Through this Festival, the Church provides a supportive and nurturing environment for our young people to
become confident public speakers and simultaneously be given the opportunity to learn about their faith.
In addition to public speaking, this year the Archdiocese has added two new categories for participation in
the festival: poetry and essay writing!
The Metropolis also has five Facebook pages to help connect us and keep everyone informed of
events throughout the Metropolis!
Last year the Metropolis Oratorical Festival winners were Timothy Kaelin from St. George Church in Eugene, Oregon for the Junior Division (Grades 7 – 9) and Susanna Silva, St. Basil Church in San Jose, CA
for the Senior Division (Grades 10 – 12). After the Metropolis Festival both Timothy and Susanna participated in the National Oratorical Festival which took place in Detroit, MI.
His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos continues to encourage all communities throughout the Metropolis to
establish this ministry in their yearly calendars. As a Church we are deeply concerned about the religious
education of our young people. The Oratorical Festival provides this opportunity par excellence. Each and
every community should embrace the Festival for the benefit of our youth and provide them with this challenging opportunity to proclaim their faith in the public arena!
Greek
Greek
Greek
Greek
Greek
Orthodox
Orthodox
Orthodox
Orthodox
Orthodox
Metropolis
Metropolis
Metropolis
Metropolis
Metropolis
of
of
of
of
of
San
San
San
San
San
Francisco
Francisco
Francisco
Francisco
Francisco
GOYA
Young Adults
Summer Camp
Oratorical Festival
Youth Workers
For more information about the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, please contact:
Paul Gikas, Director
Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries
(415)814-1186
[email protected]
Pacific Northwest: Bay Area: Eastern California: Southern California: Southwest: 2014 District Festival Dates
April 6, Church of the Assumption, Seattle, WA
March 30, Holy Cross, Belmont, CA
April 6, Annunciation Church, Modesto, CA
April 6, Saints Constantine and Helen, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA
April 5, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Phoenix, AZ
This year’s Metropolis Festival will take place on Saturday, May 3, 2014 at Saint Nicholas Ranch and
Retreat Center in Dunlap, CA. This year’s National Festival will take place June 13-15, 2014 in Cleveland,
Ohio.
For more information visit www.religioused.sanfran.goarch.org
31
Summer is Back!
Metropolis of San Francisco Summer Camp at
Saint Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center
The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco is proud to
announce the 34th year of Summer Camp at Saint Nicholas
Ranch and Retreat Center in Dunlap, CA. Last year over 300
youth between the ages of 8 and 18 from throughout the
Metropolis and beyond attended the newly organized camp
with the theme, “Love one another”. Building on the success
of last year’s program, this summer’s theme is the very next
verse of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (John 13:34 – 35).
“AS I HAVE
LOVED YOU”
Summer Camp 2013 at Saint Nicholas Ranch with His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos
2014 Summer Camp Management Team
Director: Paul Gikas, Director,
Metropolis Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries
Program Director: Jacob Saylor, Youth Director,
Holy Trinity, San Francisco, CA.
Camp Administrator: Johanna Duterte, GOYA Advisor,
Saint Nicholas, San Jose, CA.
Words really cannot express what an incredible experience
Summer Camp can be. Imagine for a moment being away
from home for a whole week, leaving behind the pressures
of school, society and everyday life. From the moment you
arrive at camp you notice a unique atmosphere. It’s relaxed,
fun and loving all at the same time. You are placed in a cabin
with 10 other guys or girls your same age. There are over
100 kids at the camp from many different churches. You realize that there are so many other kids just like you, Orthodox!
You wake up in the morning and the whole camp does morning prayers together, giving thanks to God as a group for a
peaceful night and asking Him to bless the coming day. You
then have a fresh country-style breakfast followed by activities like sports, Orthodox life discussions, swimming, arts
and crafts, archery and canoeing all day long, only taking a
break for lunch and a short siesta. At the end of the day you
give thanks to God for such a blessed day. You have a delicious dinner and then have an evening activity like a camp
fire, junk yard wars or “A night with God”. Then you end the
evening with your cabin with some time to reflect on your
relationship with God. The week culminates with the Divine
Liturgy at the Monastery of the Theotokos the Life-Giving
Spring.
All of this takes place in loving embrace of the Church and
in such a heavenly location as the Ranch in the Sierra Mountains of California. At the end of the week you can’t believe
how many other kids you have met, how much fun you had
and how much you have grown spiritually. You are very sad
it’s time to go home, but you will be taking with you memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. With a week like
this, it’s no wonder that camp is such a life-transforming experience for all who attend!
32
Counselors and staff are selected
from throughout the Metropolis.
Session I: July 6 – 12
Session II: July 13 – 19
Session III: July 20 – 26
ONLINE REGISTRATION will open on
February 15th at www.gosfyouth.org.
This weekend stop by the Metropolis booth
for more information, or visit us online at
www.gosfyouth.org.
33
the Theotokos the Life Giving Spring which is adjacent to Saint Nicholas Ranch. Arts and crafts, swimming,
basketball, volleyball and canoeing are also just a few of the many extracurricular activities included in the
campers’ daily schedule, plus evening campfires, storytelling, folk dancing and singing.
The 230-acre Saint Nicholas Ranch is nestled in the foothills of the Sequoia National Park. Its hiking trails,
apple orchards, historic barn and lake provide the aura of a traditional Greek Village to further enhance a
truly cultural experience.
New! This year bus transportation will be available from the Los Angeles area for an additional cost.
This weekend stop by the Greek Village booth for more information or visit us online at
www.ourgreekvillage.org to register beginning February 15th.
Metropolis “Elliniko Horio”
The Greek Village Immersion Camp
is a successful and growing ministry
of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of
San Francisco. Now in its fifth year, the
Greek Village Immersion Camp, “To
Elliniko Horio”, will be held June 21 –
28, 2014 at Saint Nicholas Ranch and
Retreat Center in Dunlap, CA. This year
the camp will be offered for children
ages 7 through 15.
The Greek Village Camp offers a
creative and educational immersion
program which brings children closer
to their ancestral heritage through
instruction in language, customs, traditions and the Orthodox faith. With the guidance of skilled instructors, campers will participate in classes
including: language, cooking, geography, mythology, music, dance, theatre and more. The children will
attend worship services daily and also have an opportunity to observe the monastic life at the Monastery of
34
Seeking Counselors for “Elliniko Horio”
Are you a young adult (age 19 or older or have completed your first year of college) looking for a rewarding and meaningful way to spend part of your summer? Have you ever thought of being a summer camp
counselor?
Now in its fifth year, Greek Village is an established and growing ministry of the Metropolis of San Francisco.
This is a Greek language and culture immersion program for youth ages 7 – 15 which takes place over the
course of a week at Saint Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center in Dunlap, CA.
As a Greek Village counselor, you will be responsible for the paidia in your cabin, but you will also assist with
camp activities and the educational part of the program.
This year’s Greek Village will be held June 21 – 28, 2014. Taking place in the Sequoias just outside of Fresno,
this is the perfect location for you to help create the feeling and atmosphere of the horio for our youth.
As this is a Greek language and culture immersion program, proficiency in Greek is preferred but is not required. If you are interested please visit the Greek Village booth this weekend or visit us online at
www.ourgreekvillage.org.
35
Ionian Village: Mare Than Just a
Summer Camp
Kastro chlemoutsi
by: Gabrielle Stavropoulos
So, you think you’ve had the best summer of your life already? I’m here
to tell you that if you haven’t been to Ionian Village yet, then the best
summer of your life has not happened. Ionian Village is not just a summer
camp…it is so much more.
Ιονικό Χωριό: Ionian Village. Those two words at the end of twenty days
are no longer two words. They are home. Ionian Village is the perfect
combination between your average metropolis camps on steroids, a place
where it’s hard not to embrace and love your culture, an unforgettable
religious journey, and the best tour of Greece anyone could ever hope
to have.
“
On the outside looking in, you
don’t understand it. On the
inside looking out, you can’t
explain it. I could tell you that
the second night of camp, the
crazy athletic staff made us
construct racecars out of junk
and then race them, and it
was the best thing ever. But
you probably wouldn’t believe
me. How could Junkyard Wars
possibly be a fun thing? I could
tell you that over 200 campers
and over 35 staff members
joined hands and Greek
danced for almost two hours
straight, and it was beyond
amazing. But you probably
wouldn’t believe me. How
could sweating and Greek
dancing for that long possibly
be that great? I could tell you
...a place where it’s hard not
to embrace and love your
culture, an unforgettable
religious journey...”
that the various dances we had
at camp were bigger and better
than both proms I went to. But
me. How could a church camp
have the best dances ever?
I could tell you that I got to
venerate the relics of saints
who died over 400 years ago,
and it was the most moving
experience ever. But you
probably wouldn’t believe me.
How could seeing completely
intact bones of deceased saints
possibly have that big of an
impact? I could tell you that I
now have a support system
that stretches to every corner
of the country, and a family
that I meet at the chapel in my
prayers every single night. But
me. How could people you’ve
spent twenty days with possibly
become your family?
There are so many more
amazing experiences I could
tell you about, and with every
one, you still probably wouldn’t
believe me. Well, I challenge
you to trust me. I challenge
you to believe me. Ionian
Village was the best summer of
my life. I have my best friends,
my family right next to me to
comfort me even though we’re
miles and miles apart. Even
though it’s over, it is in no way
done. No distance can hold us
apart, and no summer will ever
beat the one I spent at Ionian
Village.
Gabrielle Stavropoulos was a 2013 Ionian Village camper in cabin Delphi.
She is originally from Charlotte, North Carolina and is currently a freshman
at North Carolina State University.
36
IONIAN
V I L L AG E
2 0 1 4
Ionian Village is a unique ministry of our Greek Orthodox Archdiocese that
offers campers and staff members a life-changing opportunity to experience
Greece and live their Orthodox Faith. More than simply a summer camp,
Ionian Village promises to be the best summer of your life. Ionian Village
offers two sessions each summer, both open to Greek Orthodox youth who
have completed 8th grade through 12th grade. Ionian Village also offers a
Spiritual Odyssey program for young adults ages 19 through 24. Registration
for all Ionian Village programs is now open online at www.ionianvillage.org.
#AREYouREAdY?!
SeSSion 1: June 23 - July 12 SeSSion 2: July 20 - AugusT 8
for Greek orthodox Youth currentlY in Grades 8 to 12
www.ionianvillage.org
37
Judges Bios
FDF 2014
Dance Judges
Renee Cleary has taught Greek Dance at Fullerton College and was a member of a performing Greek Dance Group for thirteen years,
seven as the director. She has traveled widely
through Greece, collecting and researching
both costumes and dances. She observed both
professional and amateur dance groups and
village festivals. Renee has been involved continuously for 35 years with Greek dance workshops, festivals, consultations and as a teacher
of Greek dancing. She first participated in
FDF in 1981 and has been a costume or dance
judge every year since 1985.
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ECIA
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38
*Restrictions apply, based on availability, weekend surcharge applies,
stop-over option available
Sofia Efstratiou-Nicolaou has been dancing
from childhood and has directed several dance
troupes in her 25-year dance career. She has
been attending FDF since 1988 and started her
dance and director calling at the St. Nicholas
parish in San Jose, California. Sofia spent 5
years in Greece where she was a dance member of the Lyngistes Dance Troupe led by Yannis
and Ira Konstantinou. During her years abroad,
she attended several dance seminars and numerous cultural gatherings and events. Through
this dance journey, she developed a deep understanding, true inspiration and passion for the
Greek heritage through dance. This experience
gave her the opportunity to obtain extensive
knowledge in many dance regions of Greece.
Sofia has studied in great detail the dance,
music, customs, traditions and dress of Western
Macedonian giving heaving emphasis on the region of Florina. Her article, “A Journey Through
Agios Germanos” which tells the story of her
journey through the Florinan highlands, was
published in the Oli Mazi newspaper. Other
regions of research, interest and study include
Epirus, Eastern Macedonia and Vlach dances,
traditions and culture. Her devotion and love
for Greek dance continues to guide her study
today.
Larry Halfhill has 20 years of FDF experience
as a dancer, director and choreographer. He
became a competition dance judge in 2006
as a way to contribute back to FDF and bring
a different perspective to the judging process.
Larry’s Greek roots derive on his mother’s side
from Arcadia. His broad-based dance experience over a period of 30 years spans regions
and borders. Current areas of special interest
include Crete, Anatoliki Romilia, Macedonia,
the Peloponnese and Megara. Larry lives in
Seal Beach, California with wife Bessie Nicolaou Halfhill, a former FDF dancer and director,
and children Thanasi, Maria, and Leonidas.
He is an active member of St. John the Baptist
Greek Orthodox Church in Anaheim. Larry
attended the University of Southern California,
where he earned BS and MS degrees in engineering and an MBA.
Louis Kades was born in Los Angeles to Greek
immigrants from Arkadia in the Peloponnese.
Growing up he was exposed to the traditional
songs, dances and customs from his parents’
homeland. An avid dance enthusiast from an
early age, he eventually became involved in
39
IONIAN VILLAGE 2014
SCHOLARSHIP
OPPORTUNITY
TWO LUCKY FDF PARTICIPANTS WILL ReCeIve
A SChOLARShIP TO ATTeND IONIAN vILLAGe
SeSSION 2 (JULY 20 - AUGUST 8)
SChOLARShIP APPLICATION AvAILAbLe
ONLINe AT WWW.YOURFDF.ORG
many thanks to our anonymous donors for this generous gift
the operations of the Folk Dance Festival in
1990 and continued to be on the FDF Board
of Trustees until 2008. Striving to expand his
knowledge of dance and culture beyond his
parents’ villages he has participated in various workshops and seminars including helping to organize several workshops. Through
these workshops he has cultivated friendships
with many instructors and villagers throughout
Greece. One of his key interests is in Greek folk
music and he loves to play the daouli and the
doumbeleki. He met his wife Vicki (Apostolou)
Kades originally from Seattle, WA through
FDF and from 2003-2006 they co-directed the
award winning Pyrkagia. Over the years he has
consulted and assisted various directors with
their groups.
George Nickols is a native of Los Angeles, holds
a BA in Mathematics, worked in global network
telecommunications, and is currently retired
40
and loving it. His devotion to his ethnic Greek
heritage in both dance and theatre has brought
him immense joy and pleasure. George has
been involved in Greek dance since 1963, has
participated in many Greek cultural events, productions, international festivals, TV and films.
George has been a judge for the FDF since
1986. He also has been a member of the FDF
Board of Trustees for many years.
George Papangellin began dancing in 1974
with the Ionian Dancers, at St. Nicholas parish in San Jose. He helped start the Parnassos
Dancers for Holy Cross parish, Belmont in 1981.
In 1983, he directed the Epirus Dancers at St.
Nicholas in San Jose. After moving to Fresno,
he joined and directed the Kefi Dancers, for St.
George. During his time in both Fresno and San
Jose, he stage directed various Greek variety
(music, dance, skit) performances in San Jose,
San Francisco, Phoenix, Fresno and Seattle. In
Fresno, he choreographed “Zorba, the musical” for The Good Company Players. He continues to either direct or work with various dance
groups in Fresno’s St. George Greek Community, and teach Greek folk dance, traditions and
costumes to Elder Hostel classes at St. Nicholas
Ranch, in Dunlap. George has held several
positions within the governing and operational
bodies of the Folk Dance and Choral Festival
(FDF) of the Metropolis of San Francisco. He
served as Dance Judge Coordinator for 13
years, and most recently as a dance judge.
He has also been a dance judge at the HDF in
Georgia, North Carolina, and more recently at
the inaugural AGDC (American Greek Dance
Competition) in Chicago. He has traveled
throughout Greece and, together with Dr. Mary
Coros, prepared the Kamari Dance Group, St.
George, Fresno, to perform at various venues
in Crete in the summer of 1999.
Robbi Shulman has been involved in the world
of Greek dance for 40+ years. She was introduced to and fell in love with the heart, soul
and parea of Greek dance and music at the
Intersection, the folk dance café opened by
Athan Karras in the 1960s. She performed
with the Intersection Greek Dancers and was
an original member of the Panegiri Dancers,
directed by Nikos Varvitsiotis and co-directed
by George Nickols, performing for ten years at
festivals in Pasadena, Northridge and Redondo
Beach long before those communities were
sending dance groups to FDF. Robbi directed
dance groups at St. Katherine’s in Redondo
Beach for eight years and has been a judge at
FDF on and off since 1998. She has travelled
to Greece, has attended weddings and participated in workshops with a special interest in
the regions of Pontos, Thrace and Macedonia
as well as Kalymnos, thanks to Louise Bilman.
Along with Anne Sirota, Robbi is one of the cofounders of Café Asteria and is on the Board of
Directors at Kypseli Greek Dance Center where
she continues to dance and teach and is actively involved in perpetuating interest in Greek
dance and culture.
Anne Gani Sirota was born in the Greek community in Alexandria, Egypt, where her grandparents settled in the early 20th century after
emigrating from Epirus. Anne has studied,
performed, and taught Greek dance for over
45 years. She was assistant director and lead
dancer of the Ellas Dance Theater, directed
by Charlie Kyriacou for four years, as well as
a member of several other Los Angeles performing companies including the Intersection
Greek Dancers directed by Athan Karras, a
founding member of Panegiri, directed by Niko
Varvitsiotis, and of O Pontos, directed by Niko
Savvidis. Anne travels to Greece often and has
concentrated her studies of Greek dance on
Pontian and Macedonian villages in Northern
Greece, attending festivals, weddings, semi-
nars, classes and performances in Greece and
in the United States. She presented a paper on
“A Wedding in Florina” at the International Organization of Folk Arts (IOFA) in 2000 which
was also published in Oli Mazi. She has also
written several other articles for Oli Mazi, including “The Transmission of Traditional Village
Dance”, and a tribute to Don and Ellie Hiatt,
co-founders of FDF. Anne is one of the founders
and leaders of the Café Asteria Greek Dance
Club in Los Angeles, and on the Board of
Kypseli Greek Dance Center, two venues where
traditional Greek dance is taught, danced and
disseminated. She consults with dance groups
and has taught Greek dancing classes at various venues, including Kypseli, Café Asteria,
Pierce and Santa Monica Community Colleges.
Anne has been an FDF judge continuously since
1988 and an HDF judge for several years. She
also serves on the FDF Board of Trustees as a
judge consultant. Anne lives in the Los An-
Balkan Music &
Dance Workshops
Registration
information and
more online
eefc.org
Joinusthissummeratoneofourweek-longcamps.
Dailyclasseswithrenownedfaculty,danceparties,
informalsetting,andlotsoffun.Beginnerswithno
previousknowledgewelcome.Scholarshipsavailable!
•Instructiononfolk
instruments
•Singingworkshops
•5danceclasseseachday!
•Ensemblecoaching&
jamsessions
•Dailychildren’sprograms
•Dancingtolivemusic
everyevening
•Hiking&swimming
•Part-timers&evening
party-goerswelcome
Mendocino Woodlands in Mendocino, CA • June 28 – July 5, 2014
Iroquois Springs Camp in Rock HIll, NY • August 9 – 16, 2014
geles area and is retired from UCLA after 26
years as an educator, so she helps to take care
of her three grandchildren (plus another one
coming soon!).
Bessie Stavropoulos has been involved in FDF
for 20+ years either as a dancer, director or
both. Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada,
she first attended FDF in 1987 as a dancer
from St. John the Baptist. In 1993, she began
directing at the age of 15 and one year later,
her group was the first primary group to ever
win sweepstakes in FDF history. She continued
dancing and directing well into her college
years but stepped away for a short period to
complete her degree. Upon returning to the
dance scene, she received the Division I - Director’s Award in 2003. She became the head
director of her community and was directing
as many as four groups at a time. Bessie has
attended many seminars throughout the United
States, Canada and Greece. For four consecutive summers from 2007-2010, she studied
dance in Greece which included attending
seminars taught by some of Greece’s finest
instructors, touring Thrace and Macedonia
and learning the many traditions and dances
of her father’s region of Preveza, Ipiros. With
the help and support of the St. John’s Dance
Ministry, Bessie organized the Horepse Dance
Seminar in Las Vegas in 2007, 2008, 2009 and
2012 where they featured top instructors and
musicians from all over Greece and the United
States. She directed the Las Vegas groups
through 2010 then moved on to become a
dance judge in 2011. This will be her third
year on the judges’ panel. Currently living in
Greece, she continues to attend various dance
seminars and participates in the local traditions.
Nikolaos Stefanidis was born in Chios, Greece
and though he did not dance that much as a
42
youngster, he did pay undivided attention to
the dances performed by elders in his native
island of Chios. His love of dancing was not put
into action until he saw a performance by the
Terpsichoreans in Philadelphia in 1976 celebrating the country’s bicentennial. He remained an
active dancer until August of 1983 when he left
the east coast to pursue graduate studies in Los
Angeles. He stumbled upon the Panygiri dance
group while they were performing at the Greek
festival in Arcadia that very summer, and attended practices as time allowed. His first involvement with FDF was when he was invited to
dance Chios dances for a memorial to Manoli
Abazis in San Francisco. Nikos is a psychologist in Los Angeles, working with homeless and
troubled teens. He was the recipient of the
2008 Humanitarian Award. Nikos has taught
dances from Chios at Kypseli, and consults with
various groups in the Los Angeles area. Nikos
has been an FDF judge since 2006.
Aris Yortzidis has been involved with FDF for
27 years as a dancer, director, and member of
the FDF Board of Trustees. He began dancing
in his home parish of St. George in Downey,
CA in 1982 and also performed with various
groups in southern California. In 1995 and
until his departure from Southern California
in 2000, Aris directed groups at St. George,
Downey, CA; Sts. Constantine and Helen, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA; and St. Katherine, Redondo Beach, CA. In 1996, Aris received an FDF
Scholarship that provided him the opportunity
to research the dances of Serres; the dances
and traditions of his father’s village of Chrysochorafa (Gagauzika; where his father is from),
Serres; the dances of the Vlachs of Serres; and
the dances of Pontos in Serres, Katerini (where
his mother is from), and Thessaloniki. He has
continued his research and has obtained broad
knowledge of the dances of Thrace, Macedonia, the islands (Kyklades, Dodekanisa,
Eptanisa), and other regions of Greece. He
continues to present at seminars and serve as
a consultant to groups across the United States
and Canada. He has also served as a judge
at several Greek folk dance events and competitions in the United States (Hellenic Dance
Festival, Metropolis of Atlanta; Americas Greek
Dance Competition) and in South America
(Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Buenos Aires
and South America. Aris currently resides and
works in the Washington, DC area and he is
married to Anna Yortzidis, a native of Newport News, VA. They are the proud parents
of Asimina, their young toddler and dancer in
training. Aris and Anna are also co-founders
the Byzantio Greek Dance and Cultural Arts
Program based in the Greater Metropolitan DC
area and affiliated with the St. Katherine Greek
Orthodox Church in Fall Church, VA.
Stelios Zoumberakis has been participating in
FDF for over 25 years through dancing, directing, and organizing. He began his dancing
career at St. George Parish in Downey, California and later at Assumption in Long Beach,
California. He started directing 15 years ago
at various churches in the southland including St. Sophia, St. George, and Assumption,
and has gained a vast amount of experience
with many regions throughout Greece. He
has extensively studied the dances and traditions of Rethimno, Crete, which is where his
family originates, and has a broad knowledge
of dances and traditions from the Cyclades,
Dodecanesa, Eptanisa, Macedonia, Thrace,
and Pontos. He also has provided consultation with various dance directors throughout
the southland.
Costume Judges
Bertha Angels first got involved in FDF in
1983 as an observer and her involvement
An unforgetable evening with internationally acclaimed Tsahouridis Brothers and their band...
Saint George Parish invites you to an Apokreatiko Glendi
A dinner-dance feturing the talented and award winning
Tsahouridis Brothers from Veria, Greece and DJ Peter Loukatos!
A one night only concert that has no musical boundaries...
March 1, 2014 at 6:30pm
Saint Sophia Cathedral
Maniatakos Ballroom
Donation: $100
After Feb 22: $125
1324 South Normandie Ave
Los Angeles, California
Reservations:
Melina Roumbos
Email: [email protected]
(800) 653-4605
progressed over the years as her children
embraced Greek Folk dancing. Through this
involvement Bertha developed a passion for
costumes that has led to years of continued
research and learning. Bertha has been fortunate to be part of several communities in
the Los Angeles area. Currently, she is an
active member of Saint Sophia Cathedral.
Over the years she’s done extensive research
and made costumes from every region of
Greece in support of multiple communities. In
the course of researching costumes, Bertha
has gained extensive exposure in materials,
pattern making, embroidery, crocheting trim
and detailed sewing in an effort to preserve
the rich authentic Greek traditions of costume
making. She hopes to translate her experience
in critical support of the tremendous efforts
shared by all at FDF this year.
She has been dancing since a very young
age. Her pride and love for her Greek heritage have encouraged her to study Greek
dance, costumes, and to help teach and share
her knowledge and experience with people of
diverse backgrounds. Her formal involvement
in Greek folklore began in 1984 when she
was instrumental in forming, dancing and directing the Patriotes of Modesto. From 1984
to 1999, she directed, assisted or danced in
10 different dance groups in Modesto. She
was also involved with the coordination,
research and production of 11 award-winning
costumes. Irene also chaired 3 very successful
FDF Symposia held in Modesto.
Irene has served on the FDF Board of Trustees
in several positions and has been involved
with various aspects of FDF. Irene has been
a costume judge at FDF since 2001.
Julie Mamalis has been involved in the folk
dance movement for the last 28 years, where
she has researched and created Greek costumes for the Annunciation parish in Sacramento. She is instrumental in presenting
a “cultural exhibit” for the parish’s annual
Greek festival, providing visitors a historical
overview of ancient Greece to the present,
through the display of a vast collection of
photographs, authentic items and clothing.
She currently serves as a member of Annunciation’s parish council, and is a long-time
member of the church choir, where she was
the organist for 25 years. Julie has retired
from a long career at the State Capitol where
she worked as an administrative assistant for
a state assemblymember and senator. Julie is
the mother of two grown children, who both
participated in FDF, and now enjoys watching
three grandchildren who are presently enthusiastic participants of FDF!
Dena Stamos has been involved in Greek
dance since her childhood in Chicago. She
first performed at age seven. She became involved in FDF eighteen years ago as Executive
Director of the Modesto dance groups. During this time the Modesto representation grew
from twelve dancers in two groups to 140
dancers and seven groups. Dena is respected
and admired for the accomplishments of the
Modesto groups at FDF: 57 awards, including
6 Sweepstakes medals and 19 First Place medals. Her expertise in costuming is also evident
in the 18 costume awards won by Modesto
teams. She did the research for those winning
costumes, and parents and dancers did the
work with her help. Dena has one of the largest private collections of Greek Folk Costumes
on the West Coast and has done multiple
exhibits throughout the state. Dena has been
involved with FDF for 25 years, including serving as treasurer on the FDF Board of Trustees.
She was a recipient of the FDF Humanitarian
Award. She was also honored by the Cali-
Irene Peros is a native of Modesto, California.
44
fornia Arts Council for Lifetime Achievement
in the Arts in 2002. Dena has been an FDF
costume judge since 1999 and is also a costume judge for HDF.
Demetri Tashie’s love of Greek music and
dance began at a very early age. As an
adult, he developed a passion for the folk
music, rituals, costumes, crafts and dances
associated with the varied regional cultures of
rural Greece. His love for the unusual has led
him to find teachers both here and abroad.
Among others, he plays laouto, zurna, flogeras, yayli (bowed) tanbur, and percussion.
Besides playing music and dancing, Demetri
travels frequently to Greece to film and makes
documentaries on various folk rituals and celebrations of village life.. His particular passion
is for the Anastenaria custom of Eastern Thrace which culminates in the participants dancing on live coals in honor of Saints Constantine and Helen. Demetri is a past president
and lead dancer for GAFS, the Greek American Folklore Society, founded by Paul Ginis,
in Astoria NY. Demetri teaches at GAFS as
well as other local Folk Dance groups. In
November 2008, he headlined at the Kennedy Center’s Millenium Stage in Washington DC, bringing his group, “The Greek Folk
Ensemble” and their show “Journey Through
Greece “ to our nation’s capital. Demetri has
an extensive folk instrument collection, with a
varied representation of tsambounas, as well
as many chanters for askomandoura (bagpipe
from Crete), all intricately carved. Many zurnas, from diverse places throughout Greece
and beyond, as well as many folk flogeras
(flutes), and gaidas, round out his collection.
He has given, and is available for, lecture
demonstrations of the various folk instruments
used in Greek folk music, as well as lecturing
on many other aspects of Greek Folk Culture. This will be his 5th consecutive year as
a dance judge as FDF. Demetri has also been
an HDF judge. Demetri can be contacted
through www.demetri-media.com.
Choral Judges
Pinio Dovalis Benetatos holds a Bachelor of
Arts in Piano Performance from CSULB and a
Master’s Degree in Piano Performance from
USC. Following the completion of the Master’s Degree’ she continued post-graduate
studies focusing on solo and duo-piano repertoire and concerti. Pinio has held sta2 positions in the dance and music departments at
CSULB’ CSUF’ UCLA’ California Institute of
the Arts’ and teaching positions at Orange
Coast College and Kids’ College at Cypress
College. Mrs. Benetatos is an active member
of Music Teachers Association of California’
Music Teachers National Association’ CAPMT’
American Guild of Organists’ and the National Guild of Piano Teachers. She is Music Direc-
Beautiful handmade
ΤΣΑΡΟΥΧΙΑ
By Ιωαννης Γεωργακος
from
Αραχωβα
SITE : www.to-tsarouxi.gr
EMAIL : [email protected]
Tel : 0030 22670 31068
Fax : 0030 22670 31097
tor/Organist of Assumption Greek Orthodox
Church in Long Beach and also maintains a
busy teaching schedule at her private music
studio in Cypress where she and her husband’
Harry reside. Pinio greatly enjoys her position
as pianist and vocal coach for Meritage Vocal Arts Ensemble based in Orange County’
California.
Athena Mertes currently resides in Las Vegas’
NV where she is the choir director at St. John
the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church. She
received her Master of Music degree in vocal performance and Bachelor of Music degree in music education from UNLV. Athena
teaches middle school choir’ and is an active
performer of concert and opera repertoire.
In addition to her success as an opera and
concert performer’ Athena has earned numerous awards for her performances’ such
as the Metropolitan Opera National Council
Encouragement Award’ winner of the Greek
Women’s University Club National Competition’ the National Association of Teachers of
Singing Artist Award’ 1st place in the Dean
Allen Scholarship Competition’ Classical
Singer Convention AFE winner’ finalist in the
Hennings-Fischer Young Artist Competition
and 1st place in the National Association of
Teachers of Singing NATS competition.
John Michael Boyer has been a professional
singer and choral conductor for more than 15
years. As part of his degree in music from UC
Berkeley, he studied orchestral, choral. and
operatic conducting with David Milnes and
Marika Kuzma. As Protopsaltis of the Metropolis of San Francisco and an expert Byzantine cantor, he lectures on liturgical music
across the United States and abroad. He is
a member of Cappella Romana (cappellaromana.org), was artistic director of the Josquin
Singers and associate conductor of Bay Area
Classical Harmonies (bayareabach.org). He
coached Chanticleer for their Grammy awardwinning recording of Tavener’s Lamentations
and Praises. Boyer is an active composer,
producing music for Cappella Romana’s Divine Liturgy and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox
School of Theology’s All Creation Trembled.
He is currently collaborating on a project for
the St. John of Damascus Society (johnofdamascus.org) with composers Matthew Arndt,
Alexander Khalil, Kurt Sander, Richard
Toensing, and Tikey Zes. John is in his final
semester as a seminarian at Holy Cross, after
which he plans to pursue a PhD in musicology
through the University of Athens.

2014 Oli Mazi Newsletter

Transcription

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