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Bachelor and diploma exams at the School of Byzantine Music of the Holy Metropolis of Trikkitranslated

July 2, 2026 · 1 min read

The annual graduation and diploma exams of the School of Byzantine Music of the Holy Metropolis of Trikki, Gardiki and Pyli were completed with particular success and in an emotional atmosphere, confirming the high level of musical and theoretical training offered by the School in the field of church music education. The exams for the awarding of the Degree of Hieropsaltos, which certifies the proficiency of the candidates in the art of chanting, the theory and practice of Byzantine Music, as well as the liturgical application of the ecclesiastical membership, were conducted before an examination committee consisting of the Director of the School, Fr. Spyridon Spyrou, and the professors Fr. Spyrou and Christos Oikonomou.

The Degree of Chant was received by:

Maria Karakosta, Maria Koukoutselou, Pavlos Brelas, Paraskevi Papaioannou, Konstantinos Sakellaris, Antigone Spyrou, Antonia Spyrou.

A special moment of the examination process were the exams for the awarding of the Diploma of Byzantine Music, the highest educational title of church music education, which requires deep knowledge of the theoretical and practical system of the…

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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Simona Tudor

Maria Karakosta was in the choir at the Holy Pious Confessor when her daughter, who now serves at 9am, was young. What a joy to see families at work!

Nicolae Gheorghiu

Maria Karakosta even sang beautifully with us at Trikala a few years ago, I remember her clear voice at matins. It's nice what you say, Simona, that the family stays together at the service - and her daughter now at 9 o'clock in the morning shows that she has been attached to the church since she was a child. Are you still related to them?

Simona Ciobanu

Yes, Maria Karakosta really had a warm and precise voice, I remember her singing "It's really right" at Sunday vespers. It's nice that her daughter grew up in the pew and now serves at 9 o'clock; as if I can see how it is passed from mother to daughter. Did you play with her again after she moved?

Marius Ciobanu

Yes, Maria Karakosta really sang with her heart in the pew when her daughter was little and she brought her with her. It's a good thing that the girl stayed near the church and now serves at 9 o'clock; it can be seen that the prayer in the house has taken root. Have you spoken to her recently?

Florin Matei

Yes, Maria Karakosta really had that warm voice that filled the church effortlessly. I remember that at a chapel of Saint Spyridon we sang together "Among the elect" and everything came out naturally, as if we had known each other for a lifetime. Did you talk to her after the move or do you only see her at 9 o'clock?

Mihai Nistor

Yes, Maria Karakosta really had that warm and round voice, you could feel it from the first notes. I spoke with her briefly on the phone two months ago, she told me that she adapted well to the new parish but she misses the choirs here. What else do you know about her, did she manage to sing at Saint Spiridon this year as well?

Gheorghe Munteanu

Yes, Maria Karakosta's voice was indeed warm and perfectly suited to "Among the Chosen". I haven't spoken to her since the move, I only heard from the parent that she has integrated well. Did you remember exactly how he sang at that chapel or did it just seem natural to you?

Maria Munteanu

Yes, Maria Karakosta's voice really suited "Among the Chosen" well, like it was made for him. I remembered how he held the long note at the end without trembling at all, it stayed in my mind from the chapel. You talked to the parent recently, what did he say about the other graduates?

Gabriela Rusu

Yes, Maria Karakosta really held that long note impeccably, it was as if I heard her at last year's chapel. With the other graduates, Father Spyridon told me last week that he was especially pleased with how Paraskevi Papaiōannou sang on "Axion Estin". Have you been to any examination?

Radu Constantinescu

Yes, I went to one of the days too. Maria Karakosta really held that long note without trembling, you're right. Paraskevi sang "Axion Estin" cleanly, but I also liked how Constantin Sakkelaris answered the theory questions. What do you think, do you think any of them will regularly sing at any church in Trikala?