THE SOCIETY REVIEW

Orthodox music is witnessing and unprecedented flourish of activity with respect to composition of new sacred music–liturgical and paraliturgical, educational opportunities, and performance. These rich and varied musical offerings are being made through the various official branches of the Orthodox Church, by independent Orthodox-centered organizations, by parish and professional choirs, and by scholars. The Society Review is a monthly newsletter that is being offered to the larger community of Orthodox musicians in America by the Society of Saint Romanos the Melodist. It is by no means comprehensive in content, but its aim is to consolidate into one convenient platform as much source information as possible for your reference. Please feel free to share this newsletter and to submit new material about yourself or your ensembles for the next issue to our return address: societystromanos@gmail.com. May the New Year bring spiritual fortitude, joy, and good health!

• “Glory to God in the Highest: Orthodox Christmas Music of Serbs in America.” In December of 2020, the Serbian Singing Society Branko Radichevich of the Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago released its first CD recording. During the Christmas period, the Brankies’ singers dedicated time by to visit elderly and/or ill parishioners who are unable to attend church services and thus share the joy of the Nativity of Christ. These annual visits created special bonds between the choir and the parishioners and their families, and brought much joy to all involved. This recording was envisioned as a way to preserve this wonderful tradition, share the joy, and bring to a wider audience the choir's repertoire of traditional Christmas songs, arranged mostly by American Serbs. Beautifully illustrated liner notes accompany the recording and contain the text of the songs in the original Slavonic, both Cyrillic and Latin alphabets, and the translations to vernacular Serbian and English. You can order online by clicking on the following link: http://serbian-singing-society-branko-radichevich.square.site, via email to brankiescd@gmail.com, or call 773-774-1366. Makes a perfect gift!

• "Protecting Veil of the Theotokos." Released in 2019 and directed by Reverend Gregory Ealy, the St. Mary Cathedral Choir of the Orthodox Church in America sings hymns to the Mother of God; to purchase: https://www.stmarysoca.org/choir.html

• “Let God Arise! Music of the Paschal Season.” Recorded live in May 2018 in the St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Euless, TX by the St. Maximus Orthodox Church Choir, Deacon Anthony Stokes, Conductor; to purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Arise-Music-Paschal-Season-Concert/dp/B07PDPVCNY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=st.+maximus+orthodox+church+choir&qid=1610384732&sr=8-1; on iTunes: https://music.apple.com/us/album/let-god-arise-music-of-the-paschal-season-live-in-concert/1455427516; on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2EQGKn3wjQFgs3Fj4ISACg;
  

• Nativity Post-Gospel Sticheron by Boris Ledkovsky; Orthodox singers from across the United States and numerous jurisdictions come together to sing this virtual performance; directed and produced by Juliana Woodill; St. John the Theologian Orthodox Orthodox Mission Station: https://youtu.be/MXYzurm3jNA

• Russian Orthodox Male Choir of Australia – Nektary Kotlaroff, Arranger & Conductor; "Heaven and Earth" arranged by Nektary Kotlaroff: https://youtu.be/eeJ_zpIIpXo

• 2020 Virtual Christmas Concert uniting children and adult choirs in song; sponsored by the Antiochian Archdiocese Department of Sacred Music: https://youtu.be/DOuBpqBrbfs

• Virtual Serbian Singing Society – Nick Vezmar, Arranger, Conductor & Producer; "Roždestvo Tvoje": https://youtu.be/utRHv6lYw_g
  

• 2021 Spring Virtual Series sponsored by the Department of Music of the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America: January 12 - May 11, every Tuesday 8:00 - 10:00 PM (EST); 3 parts–Preparation for Great Lent, Preparation for Holy Week and Pascha, General Sessions, and a special event on March 6: https://department-of-sacred music.mailchimpsites.com/2021-spring-virtual-schedule

• A Virtual Choir Retreat Featuring Dr. Ann Marie Koukios: January 17 - February 7, 3:00 - 4:30 PM (EST); four exciting workshops focusing on choral singing, interpretive considerations, language adaptations, and ensemble production through the music of our faith – and more! registration has been extended to January 17: http://mideastern.churchmusic.goarch.org/virtualretreat/

• Department of Liturgical Music of the OCA Announces Four Webinars for Church Musicians:

1. January 23 - A Choir Director’s Preparation for Great Lent and the 1st week of Lent
2. February 6 - Preparing to Sing the Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts
3. February 20 - Preparing to Sing the Services of Great and Holy Week
4. February 27 - Preparing to Sing the Services of Great and Holy Pascha

• Koukouzelis Institute now offers group classes and private lessons in Byzantine Music and Liturgics; classes begin the week of February 1st; register before January 20th and receive early enrollment discount: https://www.koukouzelis.net/register

• The Second Pan-European Orthodox Liturgical Music Conference: "Church Singing in Crisis Conditions": January 28 - 30; registration form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfIIp6XM5LdWz5-teqYrR-tUsZUCSUncNEpive0lMXekrbBRQ/viewform?fbclid=IwAR1vwrVYCWBcmjUkl3GeL6BTK7CEhca-S5DkDVkB1VH_LRblEN8Rzd79F3s; link for info: https://www.aecmc.org/conference-2021?fbclid=IwAR1VBzUSnGBQLvjJ5m1EqKYf339d8i13DdYkuvz6IyhzBGYhm7Bm_vA592U

• Ninth International Conference on Orthodox Church Music: “Church Music and Topography: City, Village, and Monastery": June 7 - 13; held at the University of Eastern Finland, in Joensuu, Finland; sponsored by the International Society for Orthodox Church Music: https://www.isocm.com/2021conference

• 2021 Concert Tour in Serbia and the Republic of Srpska: May 27 - June 14;
  2021 CD Record of Rachmaninoff's "All-Night Vigil": June 15 - 18; sponsored by PaTRAM Institute: https://patraminstitute.org/events/

• Orthodox Music Masterclass for Composers and Conductors: June 23 - 27; virtual and in-person sessions; expanded program includes a new track for children choir directing; distinguished international faculty; registration details forthcoming by January 17; sponsored by the Society of Saint Romanos the Melodist: https://www.societyromanos.org/description

• The Synodal School of Liturgical Music: July 2021 Summer Session; Registration is now open: http://synodalschool.com/#2021news

• Alexander Lingas: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=CRj7pCQAAAAJ&hl=en

• A Sacrifice of Praise: https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/sacrificeofpraise
  

• Anthology of Serbian Chant Downloadable Liturgical Music: https://www.serborth.org/liturgicalmusic

• Analogion: Byzantine Music Texts: https://analogion.com/site/html/Library.html

• Biblioteka moskovskoy regentsko-pevcheskoy seminarii: http://seminaria.ru/

• Bibliotechka regenta: http://www.regentlib.orthodoxy.ru/frames.htm
• The DLucs Collection: https://www.dlucscollection.com/liturgical-music?fbclid=IwAR0nRDXAgzoCQXsMVpKSq52xVFq2RgnC5n4bFlGFe9ZwfIogbRhppsJfwms
  

• Department of Choir Directing & Singing of the Kharkov Seminary: https://regent.kharkov.ua/index.php?fbclid=IwAR0O-ESV7DUtfprdaQUeTumRDQW6wvMtU8zDGRqc8B8baO1XZ-r_hKpqgi8
  
• Diachie Oko: http://dyak-oko.mrezha.ru/index.php?id=map

• Divine Liturgy Music: https://cappellaromana.org/divine-liturgy-music/

• The Divine Music Project: http://music.stanthonysmonastery.org

• Eastern Church Music Resources: http://ecmr.fi/

• Fr. Ivan Moody: http://ivanmoody.co.uk/orthodoxliturgylinks.htm

• iKliros: http://ikliros.com/notes_search

• James Chater: http://www.jameschater.com/pb/wp_33a1b2ef/wp_33a1b2ef.html

• Kurt Sander: https://www.orthodoxchoralmusic.com/

• Matthew Arndt: https://matthew-arndt.sites.uiowa.edu/research
  
• Musica Russica: www.musicarussica.com

• Notniy arhiv: http://seminaria.ru/

• Notniy Arhiv Borisa Tarakanova: http://notes.tarakanov.net/

• Orthodox Christian Choral Music by Serbian Composers: https://www.sv-djordje.org/index.php?jezik=en

• Orthodox Church Music: https://music.russianorthodox-stl.org/

• Orthodox Psalm: http://www.orthodoxpsalm.org/index.html

• Orthodox Sacred Music Reference Library: https://www.orthodoxchoral.org/en/home

• Podoben: https://www.podoben.org

• Pravoslavniy kliros: http://monkhood.narod.ru/kliros.html

• Russian Orthodox Music Scores: http://www.rocm.org/e_scores.htm

• Sacred Music: www.antiochian.org/sacredmusic

• Sacred Music Library: http://ww1.antiochian.org/music/library

• Sacrifice of Praise: https://www.ancientfaith.com/podcasts/sacrificeofpraise

• Serbian Chant: www.nikolaresanovic.com/Serbian-chant.index

• Spirit of Orthodoxy: https://www.spiritoforthodoxy.com/

• St. Luke's Orthodox Mission: www.sv-luka.org

• St. Tikhon's Music: https://orthodoxtwopartmusic.org/

• Vecherniaya pesn’: http://canto.ru/index.php?menu=note

• "Arvo Pärt: Sounding the Sacred" (2020). Peter C. Bouteneff (Editor, Contributor), Jeeffers Engelhardt (Editor, Contributor), Robert Saler (Editor, Contributor): https://www.amazon.com/Arvo-P%C3%A4rt-Sounding-Peter-Bouteneff/dp/0823289761/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=peter+bouteneff+arvo+part&qid=1609993424&sr=8-2
  

• "Byzantine Music Is Choral Music" by Richard Barrett (2020). Orthodox Arts Journal: https://orthodoxartsjournal.org/byzantine-music-is-choral-music/

• "Christian Liturgical Chant and the Musical Reorientation of Arvo Pärt" by Alexander Lingas (2020). Peter C. Bouteneff (Editor, Contributor), Jeeffers Engelhardt (Editor, Contributor), Robert Saler (Editor, Contributor): https://openaccess.city.ac.uk/id/eprint/21531/

• "In the Byzantine Empire" by Alexander Lingas (2019). In Grove Music Online; Oxford University Press: https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/188184667.pdf

• "The Seraphim above: Some Perspectives on the Theology of Orthodox Church Music" by Ivan Moody (2015). Centro de Estudos de Sociologia e Estética Musical (CESEM), Universidade Nova, Lisbon, FCSH, Av. de Berna, 26C, 1069-061 Lisboa, Portugal: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/6/2/350/htm

• "Modernism and Orthodox Spirituality in Contemporary Music" by Ivan Moody (2015). https://www.amazon.com/Modernism-Orthodox-Spirituality-Contemporary-Music/dp/9529988346/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=ivan+moody+modernism&qid=1609993381&sr=8-1

• "From Earth to Heaven: The Changing Musical Soundscape of Byzantine Liturgy" by Alexander Lingas (2013). https://openaccess.city.ac.uk/id/eprint/16596/8/

• "On the Need for a Living Orthodox Creative Tradition" by Kurt Sander (2012). https://www.orthodoxchoralmusic.com/creative-tradition
  

• "Annuniciation: Philip Glass" – Paul Barnes, Pianist & Brooklyn Ryder, String Quartet: http://paulbarnes.net/#recordings"

• Passion Week by Maximillian Steinberg" – Steven Fox, Conductor; The Clarion Choir: https://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.573665
  

• "Memory Eternal by Alexander Kastalsky" – Steven Fox, Conductor; The Clarion Choir: https://www.arkivm

• "All-Night Vigil" by Sergei Rachmaninoff – Peter Jermihov, Conductor; Gloriae Dei Cantores, PaTRAM Institute Singers & St. Romanos Cappella: https://gdcrecordings.com/product/all-night-vigil-op-37/

• "Blessed Art Thou among Women" – Peter Jermihov, Conductor; PaTRAM Institute Singers: https://patraminstitute.org/blessed-art-thou-among-women/

• "Greek Liturgy" by Fr. Ivan Moody – Peter Jermihov, Conductor; St. Romanos Cappella: https://www.smore.com/wyza0-greek-liturgy

• "The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom" by Kurt Sander – Peter Jermihov, Conductor: PaTRAM Institute Singers; https://patraminstitute.org/divine-liturgy-of-st-john-chrysostom/
  

• "Pyotr Iliyich Tchaikovsky: All-Night Vigil, Sacred Choral Works" – Sigvards Klava, Conductor; Latvian Radio Choir: http://www.radiokoris.lv/en/records/pyotr-iliyich-tchaikovsky-all-night-vigil-sacred-choral-works

• "Tchaikovsky: Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Nine Sacred Choruses" – Sigvards Klava, Conductor; Latvian Radio Choir: http://www.radiokoris.lv/en/records/tchaikovsky-liturgy-st-john-chrysostom-nine-sacred-choruses

• "Georgy Sviridov: Canticles and Prayers" – Sigvards Klava, Conductor; Latvian Radio Choir: http://www.radiokoris.lv/en/records/georgy-sviridov-canticles-and-prayers
  

• "Lost Voices of Hagia Sofia: Medieval Byzantine Chant" – Alexander Lingas, Conductor; Cappella Romana: https://cappellaromana.org/product/lost-voices-of-hagia-sophia-medieval-byzantine-chant/

• "Passion Week" by Maximilian Steinberg – Alexander Lingas, Conductor: Cappella Romana: https://cappellaromana.org/product/maximilian-steinberg-passion-week/

• "Stabat Mater" by Arvo Part – Richard K. Pugsley, Conductor:
  Gloriae Dei Cantores; https://gdcrecordings.com/new-release-arvo-part/

• "Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom" by Benedict Sheehan – Benedict Sheehan, Conductor; The Saint Tikhon Choir: https://cappellaromana.org/product/benedict-sheehan-liturgy-of-saint-john-chrysostom/music.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=2272352
  

• "Requiem for Fallen Brothers" – Leonard Slatkin, Conductor; Cathedral Choral Society, Kansas City Chorale, Orchestra of St. Luke's, The Clarion Choir and The Saint Tikhon Choir: https://www.amazon.com/Requiem-Fallen-Brothers-aeternam-Souls/dp/B08BQXL5N7/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=clarion+choir&qid=1609992290&sr=8-3

The various Orthodox Churches in America all have official music departments, events and activities, and resources that help Orthodox church musicians in their respective jurisdictions–singers, chanters, conductors, organists, and musicians in the youth ministry, organizers of music events–perform their respective duties in the Church and continue to improve their service and skills. The links to their websites are listed below:

Beyond the "official" music ministries of the canonic Orthodox Churches in America, in the last 30 years we have seen an unprecedented rise in the formation of independent arts organizations devoted to Orthodox arts and culture, fully professional in their personnel and structure. Orthodox Christians and Americans who take an interest in Orthodoxy should be aware of the work of these visionary efforts. Their websites and founders are listed below by date of formation in chronological order:

1) Cappella Romana Mission

“Cappella Romana is a vocal ensemble dedicated to combining passion with scholarship in its exploration of the musical traditions of the Christian East and West, with emphasis on early and contemporary music. Our vision is to give a glimpse of transcendence through the music of the Christian East and West.”

About

“Cappella Romana is a professional vocal ensemble that performs early and contemporary sacred classical music in the Christian traditions of East and West. The ensemble is known especially for its presentations and recordings of medieval Byzantine chant (the Eastern sibling of Gregorian chant), Greek and Russian Orthodox choral works, and other sacred music that expresses the historic traditions of a unified Christian inheritance.

Cappella Romana brings to life music that meets a deep human need, not only to belong and to have a shared creative experience, but to feel the full range of ethical, emotional, and spiritual effect as expressed through music. We strive to give an experience that allows you, our audience, to feel a sheer joy that cannot be contained by mere words, but through the ineffable sounds of the human voice in song.”

Founded in 1991 by Dr. Alexander Lingas.

Website: https://cappellaromana.org/

2) The Synodal School of Liturgical Music

About

“In the summer of 1992, then-Archbishop Laurus (later Metropolitan) blessed the establishment of a summer program in liturgical music at Holy Trinity Monastery, as part of a broader effort by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) to raise the quality of church singing within ROCOR parishes across the Russian Diaspora. Known as the “liturgical music courses,” the program quickly expanded its mandate to welcome students from across all Orthodox jurisdictions, from all corners of the globe, as well as non-Orthodox students who wish to acquaint themselves with the unique tradition of Russian Orthodox liturgical singing. A few years later, the courses, now known as the “Summer School of Liturgical Music,” became integrated into the Holy Trinity Seminary and accredited by the Board of Regents of the State of New York. In August 2018, in recognition of the program’s growth and church-wide significance, the summer school was separated from the Seminary and began its independent existence under the spiritual aegis of the Synod of Bishops of ROCOR; in June 2019, the Synodal School of Liturgical Music Limited was incorporated as a stand alone not-for-profit organization (in the state of Maryland) and has been granted authorization to carry out its activities in the State of New York.”

Founded in 1992 by Fr. Andrey Papkov with the Blessing of Archbishop Laurus.

Website: http://synodalschool.com/

3) The Pan-Orthodox Society for the Advancement of Liturgical Music (PSALM), is an international grassroots organization of Orthodox Christian musicians from various dioceses and jurisdictions, formed for the purpose of sharing resources and information, primarily in the English language. Its scope has broadened, since its founding in 1999, to develop resources and programs that will support various music departments. The organization hosts a growing Liturgical Music Resource database on its official website, and moderates an active online discussion group via YahooGroups.

Founded in 1999 by Alice Hughes and Anne Schoepp.

Website: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OrthodoxPSALM/

4) The Society of Saint Romanos the Melodist–Forming a Vision of Orthodox Culture in America

Mission

“Bringing the beauty and depth of Eastern Orthodox culture, in all its varied and ethnic forms, to the Orthodox Faithful and Americans at large.”

Vision

“To form a community that fosters creativity in the Church and transformational events.”

About

“The Society of Saint Romanos the Melodist is a Not-for-Profit 501(c)(3) corporation with tax-exempt status, founded in 2001 to promote Eastern Orthodox culture in general and sacred music in particular. The Society organizes and presents distinctive cultural events that further an awareness of Eastern Orthodoxy in America. These events include commissions of new works of art, concerts of sacred music, presentation of guest-artists, speakers and ensembles, theological seminars, and pilgrimages. The Society is endorsed by Members of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America and sponsors two choral ensembles.

The St. Romanos Cappella, a professional chamber choir, is devoted to the performance of sacred music and is conceived as an ensemble that brings together voices, and on occasion instruments, and repertoire from the Christian East and West. The St. Romanos Choir, an amateur chamber choir, is comprised of church musicians—singers, chanters, choir directors, and composers, and sings repertoire that consists exclusively of a cappella works from the various branches of the Eastern Orthodox Church.”

Founded in 2001 by Dr. Peter Jermihov with the Blessings of five ruling Hierarchs of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA) and later by nine Hierarchs of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America.

Website: https://www.societyromanos.org/

5) International Society for Orthodox Church Music (ISOCM)

Mission

“The Society has as its aims:

1. The fomentation of contact and sharing of information between Orthodox church musicians and institutions with like aims internationally;

2. The regular organization of international conferences and the publication of the
proceedings thereof;

3. The publication of other resources for Orthodox Church music, including books, music publications and facsimiles.”

About

“The International Society for Orthodox Church Music (ISOCM) was founded by an international group of musicians and scholars on 18th June 2005, following the First International Conference on Orthodox Church Music, “The Traditions of Orthodox Music,” held at the University of Joensuu, 13–19 June 2005, and with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Leo of Karelia and all Finland.

The Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh International Conferences were heavily subscribed, and the Eighth Conference continues to build on this tradition, thereby vindicating the vision of the founding members of the Society, to bring together musicians of diverse traditions with the Orthodox Church (and, it should be said, from related theological and musicological fields) with the aim of encouraging dialogue and discussion and the sharing of ideas.

The Proceedings of the seven conferences (2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017) are currently available for purchase. These webpages are constantly being developed and expanded, so please bookmark this site and return frequently.

The Society also publishes an on-line Journal of articles and content relating to church music.”

Founded in 2005 by Fr. Ivan Moody (with the Blessing of Archbishop Leo of Karelia and all Finland).

Website: https://www.isocm.com/

6) The Saint John Koukouzelis Institute of Liturgical Arts

"Offers a wide array of group classes and individual instruction in traditional Byzantine Music and Greek Orthodox Liturgics, as well as daily liturgical services.

The Koukouzelis Institute has been re-formed as a ministry both of the Metropolis and of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Portland, Oregon. Students have the double opportunity to experience both rigorous classroom training and robust hands-on liturgical experience in church."

Founded in 2006 by John Michael Boyer with the Blessing of Metropolitan GERASIMOS of San Francisco.

Website: https://www.koukouzelis.net/about

7) The Saint John of Damascus Society–Reveiling Orthodox Christianity through Its Sacred Music

“The Saint John of Damascus Society, founded in 2011, is a sacred arts organization that seeks to promote excellence in the liturgical music of the Orthodox Christian Church, regardless of ethnic/national heritage of style, as well as support related outreach, educational, and academic efforts.

“Conceptually, we want to encourage and develop the next generation of Orthodox church musicians, because they aren’t going to appear out of nowhere. We want to cultivate an environment where kids might grow up thinking, “Hey, I could be a cantor or a choir director when I grow up!” That’s not something that can really be a vocation at this stage of the game, and in the super long-term it would be good to contribute in some small way to making it more of one. The National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musician’s booklet, Starting a Youth Music Program in Your Parish, is a good place to start, but it seems to me that there is more that can be done from there. To this end, we hope to eventually set up a scholarship fund to benefit Orthodox college students at Indiana University who want to pursue the study of their Church’s music.”

Founded in 2010 by Richard Barrett.

Website: http://www.johnofdamascus.org/about/

8) AGES Initiatives, to promote and sustain the Church's Music Ministry.

"Today, many people are engaging with the ancient Christian Faith for the first time after experiencing its worship. Therefore, we believe that the Music Ministry of the Orthodox Church has significant and original contributions to offer to the spiritual life of this country and the world. To this end, AGES Initiatives, Inc. will develop tools and programs to promote and sustain the Church's Music Ministry, using current and emerging technologies."

Founded in 2012 by Fr. Seraphim Dedes with the blessing of Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta.

Executive Director–Richard Barrett.

Website: http://www.agesinitiatives.org/

9) The Orthodox Arts Journal Mission

“The Orthodox Arts Journal publishes articles and news for the promotion of traditional Orthodox liturgical arts. The Journal covers visual arts, music, liturgical ceremony and texts, and relevant art history and theory. The Journal presents these topics together to highlight the unified witness of the arts to the beauty of the Kingdom of God and to promulgate an understanding of how the arts work together in the worship of the Church. In the spirit of the revival of traditional Orthodox liturgical arts sparked by Kontoglou and Ouspensky, the Journal will publicize excellence in contemporary liturgical arts, emphasizing fidelity to the Church’s tradition of beauty and craft.

The Orthodox Arts Journal is not affiliated with any ecclesiastical jurisdiction. The staff and contributors are Orthodox Christians from a variety of backgrounds.”

Founded in 2012 by Andrew Gould with the Blessing of Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York (ROCOR).

Website: https://orthodoxartsjournal.org/

10) The Patriarch Tikhon Russian-American Music Institute (PaTRAM Institute™)­–Uniting Musical Excellence with Orthodox Worship

“The mission of PaTRAM Institute™ is to foster the authentic and original splendor of Russian Orthodox choral music together with its astounding spiritual depth, in both the English and Slavonic languages. PaTRAM Institute performs world-class, professional recordings in unique venues featuring its award-winning international ensembles; distinctive concert performance events; and educational programs. We trust that our efforts to spread beautiful liturgical music throughout the world will enlighten our collective minds and hearts.”

“Sacred song is an intrinsic part of Orthodoxy and our most beautiful expression of love for God, Our Most Holy Lady Theotokos and the saints. The glorious tradition of church singing dates back a thousand years, yet our musical treasures are being lost. Our hope is to bring about a Renaissance of Orthodox music for the faithful and all who seek beauty and depth and thereby, enrich humanity through the power and splendor of sacred music. We pray that our efforts are God pleasing.” Tatiana Geringer, PaTRAM Institute CEO

Founded in 2013 ­by Katherine and Alexis Lukianov.­­­

Website: https://patraminstitute.org/

11) Institute of Sacred Arts at St. Vladimir’s Seminary

“The Holy Liturgy in the Orthodox Church can be said to be the aspiration towards, if not the actualization of, a “complete work of art” – a synthesis of all the arts – whether it be music, painting, mosaic, embroidery, poetry, architecture, sculpture, choreography, rhetoric, etc., at the service of theology and divine worship. But it so happens that in spite of the richness of artistic beauty to be encountered within the Orthodox Church, the confluence of the arts and theology hardly seems to be a focus of rigorous inquiry in seminaries here in the US. This situation, however, is about to change with the establishment of a permanent Institute of Sacred Arts (ISA) which is being launched at the St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS).

The ISA is an outgrowth of the Sacred Arts Initiative (SAI), reviewed in a previous post.
Like the SAI, the ISA will continue to organize scholarly symposia, conferences and cultural events, and find expression through publications, but it will expand its concept to include a developed curriculum to be offered at SVOTS, exploring the mutual relationship between theology and the arts, or as their mission statement puts it, the “intersection of human creativity and holiness.””

Founded in 2016 as SAI and in 2020 as ISA by Dr. Peter Bouteneff

Website: https://www.instituteofsacredarts.com/

12) Liturgical Arts Academy

“Fr. Anthony Salzman, pastor of St. Philothea Greek Orthodox Church in Watkinsville, GA and Director of The Liturgical Arts Academy, is himself an iconographer who had the chance to study in Greece, as well as a churchman who saw a training gap that needed to be filled. He and cantor Constantine Kokenes of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Atlanta shared a vision of developing a program to pass these traditions on to the next generation, and together, they came up with the plan.

“The Liturgical Arts Academy to train men and women in the traditional Orthodox arts of chanting and iconography,” is how Fr. Salzman describes it. With the blessing and encouragement of his bishop, Metropolitan Alexios of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta, as well as grant support from the Calvin Institute, the Academy held its inaugural weeklong session in May 2018 against the backdrop of the Metropolis’ Diakonia Retreat Center in Salem, South Carolina. His Eminence Alexios celebrated the opening Divine Liturgy, and 30 students were in attendance from all over the United States for the opportunity to learn iconography from Fr. Salzman and Byzantine chant from teachers like John Michael Boyer, protopsaltis of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco, and Constantine Kokenes.”

Founded in 2018 by Fr. Anthony Salzman with the Blessing of Metropolitan Alexios of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta.

Website: https://www.stphilothea.org/events/the-liturgical-arts-academy

13) The Russian Choral Heritage Foundation has as its mission to ensure that accurate, authentic sources and subsequent high-quality editions of Russian sacred choral music continue to be widely available to performers, scholars, and church musicians around the world. The establishment of its online Orthodox Sacred Music Reference Library is designed to fulfill that mission.

Founded in 2018 by Dr. Vladimir Morosan.

Website: https://www.orthodoxchoral.org/

14) Artefact Institute

About

“Artefact Institute guides participants in crafting an immersive experience that includes both the thinking and talking about and the doing of the components of Christian Culture. A life rich with meaning, beauty, and human connection. These are the true heirlooms of culture, the true “artefacts” of humanity. In the past, culture bestowed these riches upon us without our conscious involvement—often without our even being aware of them. Today we have to cultivate them ourselves, deliberately, consciously, diligently. But how?

We believe that at the core of every thriving human culture, whether small or large, past or present, are three essential elements: common worship, common work, common feast. Articulating the technique of these three elements—and teaching people how to build them up in their own lives and the lives of those around them—is the core mission of Artefact. Whether your community is centered in a physical location, a common interest or goal, or a common faith, Artefact’s expert team of culture creators brings the concrete techniques of culture creation to you, in person.”

Founded in 2019 by Rowan Benedict Sheehan and Talia Maria Sheehan.

Website: https://www.artefactinstitute.com/

– Compiled by Peter Jermihov

Ecumenical Patriarchate

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America

American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the USA

Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA

Albanian Orthodox Diocese

https://www.oca.org/dioceses/albanian-archdiocese

Patriarchate of Antioch

Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

Patriarchate of Moscow

The Moscow Patriarchal Parishes in the USA

Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

Patriarchate of Serbia

https://www.serborth.org/

Patriarchate of Romania

Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas

Patriarchate of Bulgaria

Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia

Patriarchate of Georgia

Georgian Apostolic Orthodox Church in North America

Orthodox Church in America

Orthodox Church in America