It is my pleasure to inform you that His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, has invited the Archons and their families to the Sacred Archdiocese of America’s official celebration in honor of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s patronal feast. This joyful event will take place at Saint Bartholomew’s Church in Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.

This joyful occasion will bring together numerous religious and political leaders, ecclesial officials and lay representatives, fellow Christian faithful and other prominent individuals, from both the local community and wider Greek American family. His Eminence stated that he would “personally appreciate the esteemed presence of our beloved Archons at this special event, as we endeavor to celebrate the gladsome spirit of interfaith fellowship and fraternal Christian solidarity that has long exemplified the character and ministry of His All-Holiness and our Ecumenical Patriarchate.”

This singular event, entitled “Praise the Lord All Nations: Every breath, praise the Lord,” will feature the Romanos the Melodist Greek Orthodox Byzantine Choir and Chanters Society of Greater New York, which will perform a selection of hymns from the feast of Pentecost. They will be chanted in the traditional Byzantine style that originated in the early centuries of the Church and is the cornerstone of Greek Orthodox Christianity’s rich and inspiring musical tradition.

This unique tribute concert will honor His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and in celebration of his name day, the feast of the Holy Apostle Bartholomew on June 11. It is being presented as an expression of the gratitude that all Archons and Orthodox Christians worldwide feel for the many rich blessings that have been bestowed upon us from the Mother Church of Constantinople.

The concert is will also pay tribute to the late Archon Nikolaos Steliaros, of blessed memory, who served the Archdiocese as a master chanter and teacher of Byzantine Music for over five decades. Archon Steliaros fell asleep in the Lord in September 2024. In his many decades of selfless service to God’s Holy Church, Archon Steliaros left behind an incomparable legacy, both in contributions to the Psaltic Art in the United States as well as in Greece, and in his numerous students who currently serve the parishes of the Archdiocese as clergymen or chanters.

Archon Nikolaos Steliaros was born in 1930 in the Cretan village of Thymiana. He immigrated to New York City in the 1960s. In November 1993, the ever-blessed Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America recognized his service to the Church by investing him as an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and conferring upon him the offikion Protopsaltis. Then on December 1, 2013, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew bestowed an even greater honor upon Archon Steliaros, conferring upon him the Patriarchal offikion of Mousikodidaskalos during a memorable ceremony at the Patriarchal Church of Saint George at the Phanar. This was the first and only time that a Greek American received this select distinction from the Ecumenical Patriarchate in recognition of his service and contributions to the sacred liturgical music of the Holy Orthodox Church.

Admission is free and open to all — please join us on June 10 in honoring His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, as well as Nikolaos Steliaros, Archon Mousikodidaskalos. Let every breath praise the Lord!

Yours in the joyful service of our Holy Mother Church,