The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco Church Music Federation Ministry presented the Patriarch Athenagoras Award Medallion to its Church Music Development Team Leader, Christopher Hondros, at Resurrection Greek Orthodox Church in Castro Valley, California on Sunday, February 6, 2022. This award is given by direction of the Metropolis Music Ministry Chair through the National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians, honoring exceptional service to our Metropolis and its church music ministry.
This award is customarily awarded at large Metropolis wide events. Because of pandemic restraints preventing such events, the ministry took advantage of a planned Ministry Team Leaders’ working retreat in the San Francisco bay area to present this award to Christopher at his home parish.
“Christopher…today, you stand in front of your fellow church musicians and parishioners at the Resurrection Church in Castro Valley, being honored for your commitment to this significant ministry in our church. Music is integral to our worship, and to attend a Divine service where there is no music, leaves a void not just in our ears but in our hearts…You are continuing this family legacy and creating your own path through your service as a chanter, youth choir director and dedicated member of the leadership team for our Metropolis Church Music Ministry.”
In her remarks, Ministry Chair, Kay Harkins, outlined many of Christopher’s accomplishments and contributions that led her to award the medallion.
“Christopher has used his creative skills as a gifted educator and trained musician to significantly build the ministry’s church music resources and programs since August of 2019. His leadership, vision, and initiative has allowed our ministry to continually support our parishes and church musicians, even throughout the unprecedented challenges of this pandemic. He has worked individually and collaboratively to do reliable research on the needs of our parishes, taking a multi-layered approach in offering enriching on-line and in-person events including a successful two-day Church Music Institute in January of 2020, the establishment of a library of church music instructional videos available on our website YouTube channel, regular on-line mini-workshops, and a world-class in-person and virtual choral music symposium in December of 2021. He has been an anchor for the Chair in bringing to life all the elements of our “Returning Strong in Faith, Skill, and Purpose” plan to provide scholarships, instruction in the liturgical arts, the further development of upcoming workshops, and individual assistance to parishes. Most notably, he has worked to bring to fruition our ministry’s goal of commissioning a new hymnal with audio files for use by the Sunday Schools, youth groups, and parishes as a music education vehicle.”
Congratulations, Christopher! AXIOS!