Tots Sing In Greek To Honor Hierarchs

Many parents are impressed if three-year-olds can recite the months of the year. On Friday at in Niles, little kids sang a song which named all the months--not only in English, but in Greek, too.

That's appropriate, because it was the day the Greek Orthdox Church honors three saints whom it calls the hierarchs.

"It's a day we support education and literacy and just honoring these three holy fathers," said Rita Petratos, director of the church's Aristotle Preschool and Kindergarten.

Earlier:

The children also sang religious songs in both English and Greek.

Rev. Chris Kerkeres explained that the three bishops-- St. Basil, who was called "the great," St. John Chrysostom (meaning "golden mouth") and St. Gregory, called the theologian-- lived around the fourth century, common era.

"They were important in helping the church define the trinity," he said. "In connection with this day, we (Greek churches in Chicagoland) celebrate Greek letters and education."

Rev. Dean Botsis put it a little more simply when he explained the three hierarchs to the small children after they sang.

"They helped the whole world understand that God is in three," he told them. "because people were confused. These three were good thinkers."

He praised the children for learning Greek, and also encouraged them to follow church practices, such as praying, having icons in their homes and honoring holidays.

About 40 parents attended the event.

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