Rhode Island Teen Wins 2026 St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival

NORTHRIDGE, CA — As reported by the Orthodox Observer, Andrew Taxiarchos, a parishioner of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Cranston, Rhode Island, won the senior division of the 2026 St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival, a national speech competition organized by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America’s Department of Religious Education. The competition was held in June at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Northridge, California.

Taxiarchos, who will begin his senior year of high school this fall, has participated in the festival since seventh grade. After receiving an honorable mention nationally in 2025, he won first place this year with a speech about the theological significance of St. Andrei Rublev’s Trinity icon. He chose the subject after finding the icon among others on his church’s altar and becoming curious about its biblical meaning.

His speech examined details of the icon, including the tree representing the Cross, a distant dwelling signifying heaven, and an empty place at the Trinity’s table representing humanity. Unable to display the icon under the festival’s no-props rule, Taxiarchos described it for his audience.

For Taxiarchos, the festival is also an opportunity to share his faith with other young people. “I’m here to spread God’s Word, and that’s all that matters, because other people are going to hear the message and be impacted by it,” he said. He also thanked his parents, parish, Sunday school, priests, and wider community for supporting him.

Previously, the UOJ reported that the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God might return to the Russian Orthodox Church.