QUICK FACTS

Date: March 3, 2019

Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Place: Started and finished in Social Hall

Total No. of Speakers: 19 (+ 2 students in Grade 6)

Results: Please see below.

Congratulations to all students who participated in our parish Oratorical Festival and delivered speeches!

They are all winners!

2019 Oratorical Festival Brochure

JUNIOR DIVISION SPEAKERS (Grades 6 & 7-9)

[All students received "Honorable Mention" as listed.]

7th-9th Grade: 12 students presented their speeches:

No. Topic Speaker

1 3 Alex Rouman

2 4 Alexa Webber

3 4 Zoe Patselas

4 5 Ethan Hochendoner (Runner up)

5 1 Jonah Radwanski

6 4 Katy Dernbach

7 2 Harry Kotsis

8 2 Alex Theros (Finalist)

9 1 Marisa Savas (Runner up)

10 2 Lexi Rooks

6th grade participants:

No. Topic Speaker

1 1 Nick Rouman

2 5 Helen Kolias

TOPICS: JUNIOR DIVISION (Grades 7-9)

• 1. Martyrs of the Church and some of the early monastics are both described as “athletes.” What does it mean to be an athlete for Christ?

  2. On January 30th, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Three Hierarchs: St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian, and St. John Chrysostom. Select one of these Church Fathers and discuss his contribution to the Church.

  3. Discuss the significance of water in the Church – Baptism, Theophany, holy water, etc. – and what this suggests about our responsibility for the natural world.

  4. Discuss the new commandment of John 13:34: “Love one another, even as I have loved you…” What does it mean to love one another as Christ loved us?

  5. In 1 Timothy 6:10, St. Paul writes, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” How should Orthodox Christians relate to money and wealth?

1. In John 15:13–15, Jesus teaches about friendship to His disciples. Discuss the importance of friendship in your life.

SENIOR DIVISION SPEAKERS (Grades 10-12)

[All students received "Honorable Mention" as listed.]

10th-12th Grades: 7 students presented their speeches:

No. Topic Speaker

1 4 Zack Chalogianis

2 3 Stephanie Cotitsas (Runner up)

3 3 Sam Radwanski (Runner up)

4 1 Eric Kent

5 1 Alexandra Chalogianis

6 3 Elizabeth Kolias (Finalist)

7 2 George Hauck

8 3 Luke Warhurst

9 3 Luke Savas

TOPICS: SENIOR DIVISION (Grades 10-12)

• 1. Many of the Church’s services employ objects from the natural world (such as wheat, wine, oil, or water) in order to confer a blessing upon the faithful. Why does the Church do this, and what does this suggest about our responsibility for the natural world?

  2. From ancient Greece to the present, politicians have aligned themselves with religious concepts and constituencies. How is an Orthodox Christian to discern whether today’s politicians do this out of genuine piety or in order to manipulate the electorate?

  3. The hymns of the Church contain the whole of its theology. Pick one hymn from the Lenten or Holy Week period and describe how it speaks to you personally.

  4. Describe how science and technology should always be at the service of humanity and, ultimately, of God, in harmony with His purposes.

  5. In view of St. Paul’s exhortation in Colossians 3:16, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom,” discuss the importance of being biblically literate today.

SPECIAL THANKS

Proistamenos: Rev Fr. Nicolaos H. Cotsis

Assistant Priest: Rev. Fr. Alex E. Radulescu

Judges:

Mark Ghannam, Prof. Mariana Nicolae, Dr. Peter Sassalos, Mark Sultani (Reserve judge)

Church School Directors:

Katherine Phan, Photios G. Ioannou

Church School Teachers:

Tony Michalopoulos, Dani Nadra,

Nick Chapekis Jr., Dr. Sophia Grias,

Robert Templeman, Cindy Templeman

Brendan Haug, Ioana Nadra, Deno Prokos

Opening Prayer & Video: Deno Prokos

Timekeeper: Brendan Haug

Speaker Order:

Pam Petropoulos, Tammy Chalogianis

Room Control: Vicky Cotitsas, Theo Chalogianis

Photography: Dr. Ted Kolias,

Photo background: Jennifer Patselas

Oratorical Festival Poster: Dimitris Papageorgiou

Hospitality coordination: Stacy Garris

Hospitality - Judges: Kalliroy Warhurst

Hospitality - Parish: Daughters of Penelope, Knossos Chapter #174 (Christina Vlahopoulos - president,

with Elizabeth Bairactaris and Mary Price)

Room setup: Dr. Sophia Grias, Luke Warhurst

Oratorical Instruction/Education:

Fr. Alex Radulescu, Artemis Alex

Sponsors: Perry and Chris Katsikas

Oratorical Festival Chair: Dr. Vicki A. Kiningham

In loving memory of Mara Krause