Holy Trinity Parish Oratorical Festival March 6th, 2022 following Divine Liturgy

St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival begins at the parish level and provides Greek Orthodox youth the opportunity to learn, write, and talk about their faith.

Elementary Division for students in grades 4-6
Junior Division for students in grades 7–9
Senior Division for student in grades 10–12

Top speakers in Junior and Senior Divisions advance to the district level. Two finalists in each district division represent the district at the Metropolis Oratorical Festival. Top speaker in each metropolis division is selected to participate in Archdiocese Finals.

The Oratorical Festival is a beautiful and wonderful way to work on ones public speaking skills while also learning more about our Orthodox faith.

Fr. William will be available for a coaching and content seminar for the Oratorical Festival for those individuals who are interested in participating in the parish event on March 6th, via zoom.

Elementary Division (Grades 4-6)

Helping Others, The Bible, Love, Being Kind, Lighting a Candle, The Cross, My Church, My Family, Prayer, Church School, My Favorite Icon

Junior Division (Grades 7–9)

1. Share what you learned about yourself after a “technology fast” of at least 21 days. What can we learn about our relationship to God and the world by fasting?

2. In our personal prayer and liturgy, we usually make requests of God. Discuss why we make these petitions and how God fulfills them.

3. Choose a saint whose life has been important to you or your family. Discuss what you find most inspiring about this saint and what others can learn from how they lived their life.

4. Discuss how you would share your Orthodox Christian faith with a visitor to your parish.

5. Discuss your favorite Church service of the year and why it is meaningful to you.

Senior Division (Grades 10–12)

1. Discuss the significance of Orthodox iconography (historically, symbolically and/or artistically) and how icons enhance our worship.

2. From the earliest days, Christian worship has been community-based, not only solitary, and Christians formed communities where the members learned from and took care of one another. Why is it important to be part of a Church community, and how is this relevant today?

3. The Orthodox faithful pray to the saints for physical healing and we have examples of saints like Cosmas and Damian who were doctors. What does this teach us about the Orthodox perspective on faith, health, and medicine?

4. Discuss ways that a young person can respond to God’s call to love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength and one’s neighbor as oneself (see Luke 10:27).

5. In every Church service, we pray for “peace in the world,” usually many times. Yet, war and violence persist. What is the Orthodox Christian approach to war and violence?

Oratorical Topics

Oratorical Tips and Resources

Video Release form from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America: Department of Religious Education

In signing this release, I give the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, its Metropolises, and Parishes the right to use, distribute, and display this video, any photographs from the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival in which my child appears, including the right to edit or use a portion or all of the video for promotional purposes for their websites, social media and/or other related purposes. I also permit the use of my child’s written text of the speech.

Questions about the Video Release form should be directed to:

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

Department of Religious Education

50 Goddard Avenue

Brookline, MA 02445

646-519-6300 | religioused@goarch.org