St. Photios Shrine and the Liturgy of Love
By Miri
am Kotsonis with valuable inputs from Joanna Trakas Cavalaris
This is a story of two friendships and a remarkable music debut that all thrived thanks to a blessed visit to the St. Photios Shrine. One friendship, between two creative and spiritual men, spans four decades; the other, between two determined and musical women, blossomed from intense teamwork on a complex and inspiring project.
In late 2023, my husband John and I visited the Shrine for the first time while on vacation. I hoped to meet Polly Hillier; happily, we were just in time, arriving one day before she was leaving on a long trip. While there, I happened to ask her a question regarding Metropolitan Dimitrios of Xanthos. In a flash, Polly handed me her phone, with His Eminence on the line! We had an animated conversation about church music, including the liturgical compositions of Christopher (“Chris”) Kypros, an Orthodox composer and conductor from Norfolk, VA. I learned that His Eminence and Chris were longtime friends despite all-too-infrequent meetings. Before leaving the Shrine, John and I prayed and gave thanks to God for all His blessings.
As a choir singer, I knew Chris Kypros’ moving and beautiful compositions. He had recently completed his fourth arrangement of the Divine Liturgy, the Liturgy of Love, but it had not been sung yet, and I was impatient to hear it! I was already searching for a choir for its debut but had been unsuccessful so far. Back at home, I continued my quest via email, now adding that celebrating this Liturgy in Florida with Metropolitan Dimitrios would be especially fitting. One “cold call” email recipient was Joanna Cavalaris.
“Oh, my goodness!” she responded. “I have an idea.” Her large extended family was planning a reunion in St. Augustine in June just before Pentecost. The very musical Trakas clan had long held Chris Kypros in high regard. In fact, one of their own distinguished members was… the much-loved Metropolitan Dimitrios of Xanthos! Why not assemble a choir, invite Chris to conduct, and sing the music at the Divine Liturgy culminating the reunion?
We began with calls to His Eminence and Chris, who responded almost identically. Both said they were moved by the proposal, whether or not we could make it happen. Was it possible that we might once again bring these friends together to celebrate a Liturgy?
Our path soon led to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of St. Augustine, where family reunion participants could most easily attend the service. Both this parish and the Jacksonville Church of St. John the Divine offered enthusiastic support. The Holy Trinity community and its priest (and St. Photios
Shrine Chaplain), the V. Rev. Fr. Maximos Politis, welcomed us warmly. Their parish council president and head chanter, Nick Lekas, and his brother Tom, became our key contacts as we prepared. The Jacksonville choir lent their organ and sent many members to sing with us. The Trakas family graciously handled the expenses for Chris and organist Jim Bostaph and provided meals for the choir. Polly Hillier repeatedly found us the right local resources to meet our needs.
We faced many challenges, as projects that try to accomplish something positive often do! Joanna and I became even better friends as we worked together, always with prayer and the belief that, through the Holy Spirit, we would find solutions. We assembled a choir of 43 experienced singers from 12 Orthodox churches. Chris helped the singers – scattered across six states – learn the Liturgy, sharing his music and preparing synthesized recordings for each voice part. He and Metropolitan Dimitrios met by phone to review the new melodies and musical interactions between the Hierarch and choir.
The occasion called for a unique keepsake, a commemorative poster, for both His Eminence and Chris. We felt blessed when His Eminence’s talented eight-year-old granddaughter, Amra Mesfin, made a painting that vividly conveyed our intent: love, gratitude, and the spirit of new life embodied by the musical premiere. Her father David, a gifted professional artist, worked with us to turn the painting into the poster we had dreamed of.
Finally, reunion week arrived. The choir rehearsed intensively from Thursday evening through Saturday morning, ending with a surprise rendition of “Happy Birthday” to Chris, arranged to fit his own music! The entire group felt uplifted by the opportunity to make their beloved conductor’s “milestone” birthday that very day even more joyful.
On that Saturday before Pentecost, June 22, 2024, Holy Trinity was overflowing with clergy, choir, the Trakas family, parishioners, and guests. Along with His Eminence and Fr. Maximos, visiting clergy incl
uded Fr. Kwame Labi, Fr. Martin Ritsi, Fr. Nicholas Louh, Fr. Stephanos Ritsi, and Dn. Athanasios Kartsonis. Metropolitan Dimitrios’ brother, Jonathan Couchell, read the Epistle, and his sister, Fanya Paouris, sang in the choir. His Eminence had learned the music well
; his chanted prayers and blessings flowed seamlessly into the choir’s responses. From prayerful hymns at a near-whisper to a powerful “Praise the Lord” that raised the rafters, the beautiful music moved singers, celebrants, and congregation alike. After the Liturgy, little Amra presented the posters, to the delight of the two friends, her grandfather and Chris. Fr
om then until November, Joanna and I edited the audio recording and created a two-CD album, available from mekotsonis@gmail.com, for all those who wish to hear this memorable Liturgy.
From the visit to the Shrine to the completion of the CD album was just over twelve months – a demanding yet faith-inspiring year. The outpouring of so much love, the blessing of the new music that enriched the reunion and brought two dear friends together again, and the creation of a deep new friendship, could only have happened by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Along with our own prayer, we felt strengthened by the intercessions of St. Photios. When I shared this story with Polly, her matter-of-fact response was, “Things like this happen very often at the Shrine of St. Photios.” All glory to God, Who is wondrous in His Saints!