St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Website
Tips For Festival Chair
2019 Festival Manual
Instructions for Parish Chairperson
Participant Packet
Information for Speakers
Judges Materials
Flyers

Introduced in 1983, the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival provides Greek Orthodox teenagers the opportunity to write and talk about their faith. The Oratorical Festival Program begins at the parish level and is divided into two divisions:

• Junior Division for students in grades 7–9
• Senior Division for student in grades 10–12

The top speakers in the Junior and Senior Divisions advance to the district level. Two finalists in each district division represent the district at the Metropolis Oratorical Festival. The top speaker in each metropolis division is then selected to participate in the Archdiocese Finals, which is hosted by a different metropolis each year.

Junior Division (Grades 7–9)

1. The Orthodox Church honors the Virgin Mary as the Theotokos. Discuss the role she plays in the Church and as a role model for all Christians.
2. Christ and many Church Fathers often criticized the wealthy. Do Christians need to live a life of poverty? Is it a sin to live a comfortable life?
3. “Lord have mercy” is the most repeated phrase in the Divine Liturgy. What does it mean to truly have mercy?
4. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3). Discuss the importance of reading Scripture in your life.
5. The theme of the upcoming 2020 Clergy–Laity Congress is “the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). Discuss the way St. Paul defines love in this important chapter of the Bible.

Senior Division (Grades 10–12)

1. Discuss how the separation of church and state benefits us as Orthodox Christians in the United States.
2. In his enthronement address, Archbishop Elpidophoros said, “We are all deacons.” Discuss the importance of being a deacon – a servant – in the Church.
3. Discuss the significance of Constantinople in Church history and the struggles Orthodox Christians in Constantinople face today.
4. How have modern-day saints from the past 100 years, from St. Nektarios to St. Paisios and others, helped Orthodox Christians live their lives today? 
5. “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2). How might Orthodox Christians put this command into practice?

Thank You to Holy Trinity Cathedral
New Orleans! - May 11, 2019

Junior Divison Finalist: Theopnay Cruz (St. Demetrios - Daytona Beach, FL)
Senior Division Finalist: Xenya Currie (St. Demetrios - Fort Lauderdale, FL)