The Saint Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine is a living memorial to the first Greek settlers on the American continent and to all immigrants whose love of freedom and desire for a better life brought them to the New World.

Archbishop Iakovos, of blessed memory, looked to St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine to provide a means to honor the faith and culture of the Greek Orthodox immigrants of 1768 when articulating its mission “to witness the Orthodox faith, share the Hellenic culture and honor the memory of the Greek colonists of 1768.”

He acknowledged that in America, at the time, “immigrant families lose their ethnic identity by the second generation, as they meld into the social fabric of the United States.”

2024 ESSAY CONTEST THEME: The St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine stands as a beacon of strength and hope to the Greek Orthodox people. How can such a witness to Orthodoxy serve as an anchor and a beacon to our youth?

The essay contest it open to all U.S. Orthodox students, 13 – 19 years of age. The submission deadline is Friday, December 6, 2024. Essays must be submitted in PDF format and emailed to: info@stphotios.com. Minimum 950 words, maximum 1,050 words. On a separate page from the essay, each submission must include the following: Author’s name, Date of Birth, U.S. Mailing Address, Email Address, Phone Number, Home parish name, city and state.

Judges will take into consideration the following:

• The essay is interesting and inspirational: focused and engaging.
• Clarity of the essay introduction and whether or not the thesis presentation draws the reader into the essay.
• Developed paragraphs with relevant points and examples.
• Artistic use of language.
• Source documentation and bibliography.

Winners will be chosen from the following categories: 13 – 15 year old participants, and 16 - 19 years old participants. The winners of each category will receive an award of $1,000. All will receive a Certificate of Participation from His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America.

All essays become property of St. Photios National Shrine and may be shared publicly.

The St. Photios National Shrine 2024 Essay Contest is made possible by the generosity of The Kathie D’Anna Charitable Fund.