wfn.org | GOAA - Concert Honors Ecumenical Partiarch

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GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA

8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106 * Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax:
(212) 774-0237
www.goarch.org    - Email: communications@goarch.org

> Contact: PRESS OFFICE
> Stavros Papagermanos
> pressoffice@goarch.org

> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> October 31, 2009

?TRIBUTE TO PEACEMAKERS? A CONCERT IN HONOR OF
ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW AND ARCHBISHOP DEMETRIOS
American Bible Society Commemorates U.S. Visit with Exhibition at
Museum of Biblical Art

NEW YORK ? ?It was a prayer for peace,? said His All Holiness
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew yesterday, following the conclusion
of a concert entitled ?Tribute to Peace Makers? at the renowned Alice
Tully Hall in Manhattan?s Lincoln Center.

The Concert was organized by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
in honor of His All Holiness and in celebration of the tenth
anniversary of the Enthronement of His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios
of America, and was attended by nearly a thousand people, faithful and
guests, from the greater New York Metropolitan area.

The Manhattan Philharmonic, under the direction of its Maestro Peter
Tiboris performed Verdi?s Overture to La forza del destino, Chopin?s
Piano Concerto No. 1 with virtuoso Vassilis Varvaresos at the piano,
and Tchaikovsky?s Symphony No. 5.

The special appearance of the Archdiocesan Metropolitan Youth Choir
was received with enthusiastic applause as it performed, under the
direction of Maria Koleva and the accompaniment of Vassilis
Varvaresos, favorite pieces like Miller/Jackson?s Let There Be Peace
on Earth, Bernstein?s America from West Side Story, Spanoudakis?
Petrina Hronia, Kaldaras/Pythagoras? I Smirni and Zoudiaris? Vosporos
with soloist Flora Kirou.

Following the concert Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew praised the
musicians, the children of the choir, the conductor and the choir
director and told those in attendance that music has ?the power to
kindle love?not only for our own people, but for all the world and for
every member of the human race.?

And His All Holiness added: ?The flame of brotherly love fires the
forge of peace. Let the song of the children be the anthem of all
tonight: Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me? with
every step I take, let this be my solemn vow.?

> Exhibition at Museum of Biblical Art

Earlier in the evening, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew visited the
Museum of Biblical Art (MOBIA). The American Bible Society in tribute
of His All Holiness? Apostolic Visit to the U.S. organized an
exhibition of sacred texts and icons celebrating the history of the
Orthodox tradition, which opened yesterday Oct. 30 and is continuing
through Jan. 24, 2010.

ABS President and CEO Dr. R. Lamar Vest hosted privately His All
Holiness who then toured the icon exhibition and a pictorial tribute
for the Ecumenical Patriarch?s prophetic and pioneering leadership for
the environment.  In his presentation to the Ecumenical Patriarch Dr.
R. Lamar Vest said: ?In Your All Holiness? ministry, the Gospel is
made relevant to the most pressing matters of the day, as you apply
the truths and mandates of Scripture on issues of socioeconomic
justice, human freedom, religious tolerance, and especially on the
environmental crisis.? Dr. Vest presented to His All Holiness a
commemorative edition of the Paschal reading from the Gospel of John,
entitled, In the Beginning Was the Word, in forty different languages.

> Visit www.goarch.org or patriarchate.org

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