St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival

Learn About the Oratorical Festival

The St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival provides Greek Orthodox youth the opportunity to write and talk about their faith. The Program begins at the parish level and is divided into three divisions:

• Elementary Division (parish level only) for students in grades 3–6
• Junior Division for students in grades 7–9
• Senior Division for student in grades 10–12

This year, the 2020 Parish Oratorical Festival will be held on SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2020 in the Fr. Andrew Demotses Educational Center immediately following the First Divine Liturgy. 

Finalists in the Junior and Senior division will go on to represent our parish at the Metropolis Oratorical Festival. 

Important Dates

• Oratorical Festival Seminar: Saturday, January 18, 2020 at 5:00 PM during the GOYA meeting 
• Registration Deadline: Sunday, February 23, 2020
• Practice: Saturday, March 7, 2020
• Parish-Level Oratorical Festival: Sunday, March 8, 2020

Learn more about the Oratorical Festival »

This Year's Topics

Elementary Division (grades 3-6)

Elementary students are free to choose a topic of their liking. Should a child wish to speak about their topic, he or she should plan to speak for no more than one minute. Here are just a few prompts that we have given to the elementary students in the past to get them thinking about a topic:

• "My Favorite Bible Story Is..."
• "Holy Communion is Special to Me Because…"
• "Sunday School Has Taught Me..."
• "I Do My Cross Because..."
• "Jesus Is..."
• "My Favorite Story About Jesus Is..."
• "My Favorite Saint Is…"

Elementary speakers are not judged.

Junior Division (grades 7-9)

Participants are required to select a topic from the list of junior topics prepared by the Department of Religious Education of the Archdiocese. Participants in the Junior Division who wish to speak about their chosen topic, can only speak for 3-4 minutes. Download the topics and tips resource guide » 

Senior Division (grades 10-12)

Participants are required to select a topic from the list of senior topics prepared by the Department of Religious Education of the Archdiocese. Participants in the Senior Division who wish to speak about their chosen topic, can only speak for 4-5 minutes. Download the topics and tips resource guide »

Visual Art Option - For 7th Graders Only

For the 2019 Parish Oratorical Festival we are offering the opporutunity for students to create an icon and have it displayed on March 3 during the Oratorical presentations. Interested students in 7th grade should contact Andrew Constantinou. 

Poetry Option - For 7-12th Graders Only

• Must be a minimum of 8 lines and a maximum of 30 lines.
• Must be based on a Junior or Senior level topic
• Poetry is not judged. 

More Information for Junior and Senior Participants

• Read the instructions for the Junior and Senior divisions »

Don't Forget to Register!

Students in grades 3-12 who would like to read in this year's Oratorical Festival should be registerd either through this online registration form or by contacting Andrew Constantinou directly by February 23, 2020. 

Parish Coordinator

Should you have any questions, would like to sign up a student, or perhaps offer your assistance for this year's parish Oratorical Festival please contact Andrew Constantinou -- Voice: (508) 868-8210, Email: ajconstan@gmail.com