Foundation News EPBF FOUNDERS Enjoy Gala Production of World-Renowned Opera Company Teatro Grattacielo
With the blessing and in the presence of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, the Board of Trustees of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation (EPBF) on Thursday evening, October 17, 2024 presented “An Evening with Maria Callas,” by the world-renowned opera company Teatro Grattacielo. This gala production at the University Club of New York took place during Archon Weekend, the annual gathering of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in New York City, and was presented in support of the EPBF. The performance was open to FOUNDERS in good standing (pledges up-to-date) of the EPBF.
Sponsors of this landmark cultural event include the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; Archon George and Lee Ann Anderson; Archon Joseph and Anna Kokolakis; Archon Markos and Sevasti Lagos; and Archon Michael and Meropi Neamonitakis. The Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons also donated $10,000 to underwrite the event. His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros opened the evening with an invocation. Then Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, Chair of the EPBF and National Commander of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, welcomed those in attendance, explaining that the evening was an annual event for FOUNDERS in good-standing, as well as welcoming new FOUNDERS, and to thank them for their sacrificial support of our Holy Mother Church of Constantinople.
Dr. Limberakis announced that there are currently 232 FOUNDERS and 68 fulfilled FOUNDERS, and that the EPBF has assets totaling over $25 million. He thanked the sponsors of the event for their efforts, and for securing such a magnificent venue for the concert; above all, he expressed his gratitude for their labors to secure the global mission of the Holy Mother Church in perpetuity.
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros then stated that the attendees could look forward to a “glorious evening,” adding that there was “something truly magical about what we are going to experience tonight.” His Eminence quoted Maria Callas: “An opera begins long before the curtain goes up and ends long after it has come down. It starts in my imagination, it becomes my life, and it stays part of my life long after I’ve left the opera house.” His Eminence added that in “An Evening with Maria Callas,” Stefanos Koroneos, the Artistic and General Director of Teatro Grattacielo, gives us a taste of Callas’ artistry.
His Eminence emphasized that “events such as this one are vital to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation.” He said that it was no surprise that this event came together under the auspices of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as their mission is to support and defend the Ecumenical Patriarchate. “Orthodoxy,” His Eminence noted, “can be consumed by nationalism,” as we see today in one Orthodox nation’s war on another in Ukraine.
His Eminence said that in contrast, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s global mission transcended nationalism, making him precisely the leader we need in this age, and underscoring the need for the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation. His Eminence encouraged all to go forth from the event strengthened in their determination to uphold and further the mission of the EPBF.
One of the event sponsors, Archon Markos Lagos, then also welcomed those in attendance, stating: “A FOUNDER is the future of our Faith.” As the point of such presentations is to attract more people to support the EPBF’s mission, Archon Lagos commended Archon Savas Tsivicos, who encouraged over thirty people to become FOUNDERS and brought them to the event. He also thanked his fellow sponsors for all they did to make this event possible.
Archon Joseph Kokolakis, another sponsor of the event, added: “This is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to you and help you become a bit more educated about the mission of the EPBF.” He explained that Teatro Grattacielo is dedicated to bringing opera into the twenty-first century, reimagining classics so that everyone can relate to them.
Stefanos Koroneos, the Artistic and General Director of Teatro Grattacielo, then explained that Teatro Grattacielo also endeavored to present classics that were not very well known. He noted that every year Teatro Grattacielo brings several Greek artists to the United States, and then noted that “An Evening with Maria Callas” celebrates the great singer’s artistry, not the scandals or tragedies of her life.
Maria Callas (Maria Anna Cecilia Sofia Kalogeropoulos) was a Greek-American soprano who was one of the most celebrated and significant opera singers of the twentieth century. Her awe-inspiring musical and dramatic abilities led to her being widely known as La Divina (“The Divine One”).
Teatro Grattacielo presented “The 10 Faces of Maria Callas”: operatic selections for which Ms. Callas became renowned, including works by Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Verdi, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Georges Bizet, and others.
The delightful evening concluded with a benediction from His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros.
The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation, a watershed initiative of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, is dedicated to achieving economic independence for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, so that it may fulfill its apostolic mission in perpetuity.
FOUNDERS of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Foundation have committed to ensuring the financial foundation of the Holy Mother Church, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, by pledging $100,000 over 10 years.
