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CHOIR
Harry J. Ermides, Director
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2007-2008 Choir
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Choir Director |
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Harry Ermides |
2007-2008Senior Choir
| Evelyn Baltis | George Jeoney | George Sokaris |
| Thalia Bayer | Stanley Karamanol | Mary Sokaris |
| Niki Colydas | George Koutsakis | Frosine Stolis |
| Pres. Nina Daratsos | Maria Lanides | Catherine Vavura |
| Irene Mafilios | ||
| Jane Deliganis | Calliope Marinopoulos |
Gus Yavis Tina Yavis |
| Dolores Docous |
Marie McCullough Jaimee Meyer Maria Neal |
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| Maria Pappas | ||
| Helen Fallon | Peter Pappas | |
| Thecla Philip | ||
| Maria Hazapis | Ted Pontisakos | |
| Margaret Hazapis Poole | LeGrande Serras | |
| Elaine Sokaris |
2007-2008 Youth Choir
| Zoe Bousbouras |
| Ariana Christou |
| Alex Fischer |
| Christina Jensen |
| Leah Jensen |
| Marina Kakavelos |
| Margarita Lois |
| Alexandra McCullough |
| Andrew McCullough |
| Molly Moltzen |
| Steliana Philip |
| Arianna Sokaris |
| Christina Sokaris |
| Dennis Ziamandanis |
During the month of March we begin a journey that ends when we celebrate Πάσχα|Easter, on April 27th. This is the longest and most beautiful religious period where the Byzantine Hymns of our Church take center stage. The 50 days before Pascha, known as a part of the period of the Triodion (meaning three odes) are the period for strengthening faith in the Lord.
March 16th, we begin our Journey to Pascha with one of the hymns sung during the first Sunday of Great Lent. For a period of nearly one hundred years, icons were banned in the Church. This hymn commemorates the return of the Icons into the churches, according to the decision of the Seventh Ecumenical Synod (787). The Church determined that this celebration would take place each year on the first Sunday of Lent, called the Sunday of Orthodoxy, beginning March 11, 843.
On this Sunday every year the triumph of the faith of Orthodoxy is celebrated with ceremony. The Icon of Christ, according to St. John. Damascus, is a distinct affirmation and a reminder of the fact of His Incarnation, which has a vital significance for the salvation of the faithful, an affirmation which prevails to this day in the Orthodox Church. The celebration of the day includes the procession with the Icon of Christ around the interior of the church with pomp and reverence signifying the re-hanging of the icons in the church.
Sunday of Orthodoxy calls upon the people to rededicate themselves to the deep meaning of their faith and to declare in unison, "One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all". The choir will sing Tin Achran ton Ikona Sou (Before your most pure image).
Another Hymn that is sung on this day, as well as throughout the first 5 weeks of Lent, is Ti Ipermaho, "The Champion Leader".
Throughout its history the city of Constantinople had been attacked many times. In 626 during the reign of Emperor Heraclius (610-641), a combined force of Turkic Avars and Persians laid siege to the city. Eventually they were driven off and a thankful city rejoiced with a hauntingly beautiful hymn to the Theotokos (Virgin Mary), known as Ti Ipermaho, which is sung in the Triodion. In translation it reads as follows:
To you, the Champion Leader, do I, your city, ascribe thank-offerings of victory. For you, O Theotokos, has delivered me from terrors; and as you have invincible power, free me from all forms of danger, that I may cry to you: Hail, O Bride unwedded.
The Akathist Hymn which means "without sitting," is a profound, devotional poem or chant, which sings the praises of the Holy Mother and Ever-Virgin Mary--the Theotokos. It is chanted in all Orthodox Churches throughout the world during the five Fridays of the Great Lent, and constitutes a very concrete spiritual preparation for the Holy Week and Easter Services.
In its present form, many Ecclesiastical Hymnographers added to the Akathist Hymn. It was formally accepted by the Church in 626 AD. The Kontakion To the Invincible Champion... we ascribe the victory was then added, and came to be recognized as the Akathist Hymn.
Friday evening’s "Akathist Hymn" ends with the next selection entitled Tin Oreotita or "Most Beautiful". The beautiful hymn to the Theotokos recalls the Archangel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary that she would bear the "Son of God.", as follows:
Gabriel stood amazed at the beauty of your virginity and at the splendor of your purity, and he cried to you, O Theotokos: what hymn of praise is fitting for me to bring to you? I hesitate and stand in wonder. Wherefore as I was commanded, I cry to you: Hail, you who are blessed with grace.
I am humbled each year as this beautiful choir sings these most beautiful hymns, often in the absence of our younger adults and children who should attend the Friday services. These services are very brief in duration and worth attending.
As we get closer to Easter I will discuss more of the beautiful Byzantine hymns sung during Lent.