A Historic Musical Heritage: Panagiotis Karousos’ Anthem for Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew’s Visit to Canada

 

An iconic moment for the Greek diaspora in Canada comes to life through the musical work of renowned Greek composer Panagiotis Karousos, who set the official "Patriarchal Anthem" to poetry written by His Eminence Archbishop Sotirios of Canada.

This masterpiece was created to mark the historic, official visit of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Canada in May 1998. A central milestone of that apostolic tour was the majestic Divine Liturgy at Toronto’s packed Maple Leaf Gardens, where 17 Hierarchs, 70 priests, and approximately 19,000 faithful gathered in an atmosphere of deep emotion.

💿 The Historic Montreal Recording

The musical composition by Panagiotis Karousos, combined with the metered Orthodox catechesis of Archbishop Sotirios, was captured in an iconic studio production:

• The Studio: The recording took place in Montreal at the studio of Ukrainian-Canadian musician Ivan Zavada.
• The Release: It was published as a triple-CD album by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada.
• The Performers: Panagiotis Karousos delivered a powerful performance of the hymns as a baritone, while Archbishop Sotirios of Canada performed the spoken-word recitations of the texts.
• The Sacred Purpose: The album was distributed to all Greek Orthodox churches across Canada, with 100% of the proceeds donated to support the Archdiocese's philanthropic institutions, including schools, monasteries, nursing homes, and the Theological Academy.

Throughout the patriarchal tour, this anthem was broadcast continuously by local radio stations in every city the Primate of Orthodoxy visited, serves as the musical backdrop for every official event.

🏛️ The Triumphant Night in Laval and Television Broadcast

The crowning moment for the Greek creator occurred during the official Farewell Banquet hosted in honor of the Patriarch at the Palace Reception Hall in Laval, Quebec. In a grand reception attended by over 2,000 distinguished guests from the Greek community and political leadership, Panagiotis Karousos performed the Patriarchal Anthem "Bartholomew" ("Honored Offshoot of Imbros") live, accompanied on keyboards and synthesizers by musician Vasilis Galatis.

Karousos’ performance captivated the audience and moved the crowd deeply. The entire hall erupted into prolonged applause, and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew himself presented the composer with a gold cross as a token of recognition and blessing.

This historic moment and the coverage of the banquet were documented by CFMT-TV (CFMT International, 1998) in a special television feature titled "The Patriarch in Canada."

📑 Hymn Lyrics (Poetry by Archbishop Sotirios)

(Translated from the Greek original)

Honored offshoot of Imbros, successor of Andrew,
First among all Orthodox Hierarchs.
You are in the image of Christ and hold His place,
Prophet, High Priest, and King all at once.
With an Orthodox mind you live and guide the Patriarchate,
You lead the Ecumene as Christ shows you.
Even if you speak seven languages, your tongue is but one:
Of truth, sincerity, love, and friendship.
You respect spirit and matter, you honor the environment,
The whole world honors you and feels your presence.
The pinnacle of Orthodoxy, you are a Father to all,
You come from the City, the glory of Patriarchs.
Canada welcomes you with open arms,
Bartholomew, lift your holy hands.
Bless your flock and our entire land,
Many years to you, Master, move forward with the Cross.

📺 Watch the Related Video

You can listen to the historic recording of the anthem performed by Panagiotis Karousos at the following link:

➡️ Listen to the Anthem on YouTube (Insert actual link here)

---

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Archbishop Sotirios of Canada, and Panagiotis Karousos at the Palace Reception Hall in Laval, Quebec. Standing on the right is Nikolas T. Pagonis, President of the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal (HCGM).

Historical Snapshot: When His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Blessed the Patriarchal Hymn in Laval

A look back at a special moment for the Greek Diaspora of Canada, through the archives of the "Hellenic Postman" newspaper from 1998.

Laval, Canada – A deeply moving and historical moment for the Greek community of Canada comes to light once again, awakening memories of the historic visit made by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the region of Laval in the late 1990s.

As recorded in the archival publication of the "Hellenic Postman" newspaper (Courrier Grec) dated June 11, 1998, the atmosphere during the community events was filled with religious devotion and national pride. The central figure of this cultural highlight was the well-known Greek baritone and composer, Panagiotis Karousos.

A Hymn for the Primate of Orthodoxy
During the special evening event organized in honor of the Primate of Orthodoxy in Laval, Mr. Karousos had the ultimate honor of performing live the "Patriarchal Hymn", his own musical composition dedicated to the Ecumenical Patriarch.

The hymn, which received the warm blessings of His All-Holiness and the applause of those present, was also released on cassette at the time, serving as an important keepsake for the Greeks of the diaspora.

The Significance of the Meeting
The photographic snapshot of the era captures the cordial meeting between the two men, with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew expressing his patriarchal gratification to the creator.

Such events timelessly highlight the strong and unbreakable bonds that the Mother Church of Constantinople maintains with Greeks abroad, reinforcing spiritual guidance and the preservation of our cultural heritage on the other side of the Atlantic.

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is the 270th Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch.

Ivan Zavada with Panagiotis Karousos at the recording studio in Montreal