Nikolaos Giannoukakis
Παλαιό Μέλος
November 14 1954 marks a date that was the beginning of the transformation and the evolution of Demetrios Archontonis, at that time a student in the Seminary of Halki in Constantinople, whose love for poetry, nature, his faith, traditions and especially Romiosini and his Hellenic heritage guided him to begin compiling a poetic anthology. The themes of the poems, many by the great Greek poets Cavafy and Solomos, are germane today as they were 60 years ago. Through the poems, one sees the genuine love that the future Patriarch Bartholomew I exhibits for nature, his fellow person, his Orthodox faith, the Church and its traditions. One can meander through the poems and come to know the Patriarch and experience his generation; a generation rooted in Christian values and ethics.
While Demetrios Archontonis was beginning his studies in the Seminary, Leonidas Asteris was already a recognized and respected musician and chantor. He would soon become an integral member of the Turkish Lyrical Theater and receive numerous awards for his role as protagonist in opera. His talent was sharpened and readied for the church at the Phanar by the Great Protopsaltae of Constantinople, Konstantinos Priggos and Thrasyvoulos Stanitsas, so that he would accept the torch of the Archon Protopsaltis of the Great Church of Christ. Thirty years ago, through the blessings of his predecessor and Patriarch Bartholomew, Leonidas Asteris assumed the centuries-old responsibility as the caretaker of the most authentic tradition of Byzantine Chant, that of the Mother Church, which he has protected and will continue to protect and propagate to the highest artistic and ecclesiastic standard.
On November 2nd 2014, the Byzantine Choir of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh will offer a historic, first-in-kind in North and South America tribute to His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew I on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of his Poetic Anthology. Concurrently, the Choir will also pay homage to Archon Protopsaltis Kyr Leonidas Asteris on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of his elevation to the position of Protopsaltis of the Patriarchate.
In addition to a comprehensive audiovisual exhibit from the Anthology and from historical recordings of Archon Protopsaltis Asteris, the evening program will feature readings from the Anthology along with hymns which the poems inspire in the authentic musical tradition of the Byzantine Chant of the Orthodox Church, that of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The selected readings will be led by His Eminence Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh, and adorned with the beautiful voices of young individuals from the Greek Orthodox parishes of the greater Western PA region.
With sincere love and enthusiasm, Dr. Grammenos Karanos, the Professor of Byzantine Music of the Theological Seminary of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America in Boston, Mr. Apostolos Combitsis, Protopsaltis from the Metropolis of New Jersey, Dr. Elie Azar, Protopsaltis of the Greek Orthodox parish in Camp Hill, PA, and Mr. Theodore Kakoulides, Protopsaltis of the Greek Orthodox parish in Warren, OH, will join the Choir for these Tributes.
The event is open to the public.
When: Sunday, November 2nd 2014
Time: 6:30 PM
Where: St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 419 South Dithridge Str. Pittsburgh, PA, 15213
More info: asbmh@pitt.edu
While Demetrios Archontonis was beginning his studies in the Seminary, Leonidas Asteris was already a recognized and respected musician and chantor. He would soon become an integral member of the Turkish Lyrical Theater and receive numerous awards for his role as protagonist in opera. His talent was sharpened and readied for the church at the Phanar by the Great Protopsaltae of Constantinople, Konstantinos Priggos and Thrasyvoulos Stanitsas, so that he would accept the torch of the Archon Protopsaltis of the Great Church of Christ. Thirty years ago, through the blessings of his predecessor and Patriarch Bartholomew, Leonidas Asteris assumed the centuries-old responsibility as the caretaker of the most authentic tradition of Byzantine Chant, that of the Mother Church, which he has protected and will continue to protect and propagate to the highest artistic and ecclesiastic standard.
On November 2nd 2014, the Byzantine Choir of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh will offer a historic, first-in-kind in North and South America tribute to His All-Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew I on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of his Poetic Anthology. Concurrently, the Choir will also pay homage to Archon Protopsaltis Kyr Leonidas Asteris on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of his elevation to the position of Protopsaltis of the Patriarchate.
In addition to a comprehensive audiovisual exhibit from the Anthology and from historical recordings of Archon Protopsaltis Asteris, the evening program will feature readings from the Anthology along with hymns which the poems inspire in the authentic musical tradition of the Byzantine Chant of the Orthodox Church, that of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The selected readings will be led by His Eminence Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburgh, and adorned with the beautiful voices of young individuals from the Greek Orthodox parishes of the greater Western PA region.
With sincere love and enthusiasm, Dr. Grammenos Karanos, the Professor of Byzantine Music of the Theological Seminary of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America in Boston, Mr. Apostolos Combitsis, Protopsaltis from the Metropolis of New Jersey, Dr. Elie Azar, Protopsaltis of the Greek Orthodox parish in Camp Hill, PA, and Mr. Theodore Kakoulides, Protopsaltis of the Greek Orthodox parish in Warren, OH, will join the Choir for these Tributes.
The event is open to the public.
When: Sunday, November 2nd 2014
Time: 6:30 PM
Where: St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 419 South Dithridge Str. Pittsburgh, PA, 15213
More info: asbmh@pitt.edu
