Byzantine Music Program begun at Dormition of the Theotokos Parish in Clearwater, FL

At the request of certain youth of the parish, Fr. Savvas Anastasiou has begun lessons in Byzantine Music at the church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Clearwater, Florida. Still in its infancy, the program has as its aim the training of young chanters from the parish in order to continue the age-old tradition of chant which the Orthodox Church has preserved for centuries.

Although the program is open to all members of the parish, the youth—girls as well as boys—have shown the greatest interest in learning. They intend to take part incrementally in the Divine Services starting with the chanting of the Polyeleos (Psalm 135) during the Koinonikon of the Divine Liturgy and the Lamentations of Great Friday (Ἐπιτάφιος Θρῆνος). At the request of the students, all American-born, Ecclesiastical Greek will be used exclusively in the chanting.

A conservatory-trained classical musician and former elementary school music teacher, Fr. Savvas began informal Byzantine music studies with the Protopsaltis of the Cathedral of St. Markella in Astoria, NY, Mr. Stergios Papadopoulos, after entering the ranks of the clergy of the Metropolis. Being bi-lingual and schooled in both European and Byzantine music has allowed Fr. Savvas the flexibility to meet the needs of his students regardless of their musical or linguistic background.

Orthodox Awareness

The Message of Patriarch Theodore of Alexandra Upon the Feast of Ramadan

The “Father of Fathers, the Thirteenth Apostle and the Judge of the World (as his pheme states), Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria, Theodore sent a message to the Muslims of Egypt upon the feast of Ramadan. It is as follows:

“The most sacred month of the Islamic calendar, the chief month of personal worship and great awareness of the Divine for every faithful Muslim ends today with the festive, joyous season of Eid al-Fitr. Read more...

Missions

Saint John of Kronstadt - Bunnell, Florida

St. John of Kronstadt Orthodox Church began as a mission parish in the year 2000, in a home chapel in Palm Coast, FL – a small town on Florida’s northeast coast located between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. After two years, it became necessary to have services in area community centers, rented for Sundays and other Holy Days. Read more...

Youth

2025 Youth Conference

Please join us for the 2025 youth conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada! To learn more, visit the conference website.

Ask A Priest

Forty Day Memorial Service

Q. Can you please explain the significance of the forty day memorial service? An Evangelical family asked one of our relatives that question. We said that it’s best to ask a clergy member. Thank you in advance for your response. (We will forward it to them as soon as possible).
-P. & M. G. Read more...