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 Archbishop Ionafan. Liturgy of Peace by Kyiv Chamber Choir The bridge between western and eastern liturgical traditions Greek Divine Liturgy is dressed by the author in the melodies of ancient Gregorian chorals with minimal adaptation that way creating a synthesis of both cultures. read more and hear |
 Anthology of Sacred Choir music vol.2 by Various Artists Sacred choir music by Sergey Rachmaninov , traditional praise and worship music of Russian and Eastern Orthodox church, supplemented with original church bells ringing, Russian Christmas music and Ukrainian carols read more and hear |
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Kiev Pechersk Monastery Photo Gallery  .CD: Selected Sacred Chants of Russian Orthodox Church Praise and worship music by Monastic Choir of Kiev Pechersk Monastery This rare and hard to find music CD represent the best sacred chants and praise and worship music of Russian Orthodox Church performed by the famous Monastic Choir of Kiev Pechersk (Caves) Monastery which for many centuries is the legend and as the magnet attracts thousands visitors and pilgrims. The first track on this CD is very old and soulful traditional monk chant of Kiev Pechersk monastery "Thy Resurrection" which opens the Easter Day. It's rare and unusual recording of this chant because the monk chanting is accompanied by bells ringing of Big Lavra's Bell Tower. |
MONASTIC CHOIR
OF KIEV PECHERSK MONASTERY 
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The next track (Christ's Resurrection by Sergei Rachmaninov) is undoubtedly a rarity. Rachmanov's works are being performed throughout the world. His symphonies, piano concertos and sonatas are well known. STILL, IN THE VAST SPACE OF HIS MUSIC THERE ARE SOME PRESERVED CORNERS. ONE OF WHICH IS HIS SACRED CHANTS AND PRAISE AND WORSHIP MUSIC . When in 1915 the 42-years old Sergei Rachmaninov had turned to the praise and worship music , he was living through a hard period of his life. He confessed he was getting weaker and older and was looking for "air, rest and solitude". The concluding words of this sacred chant bore a special significance for the composer. He stressed the phrase "By Death Shall Death Be Destroyed" by sudden break in the sound dynamics, which turns it into an intimate confession.
"Receive Yea the Body of Christ" is Eucharistic sacred chant. In the meeting of believers after the prayer of the whole Church and the priest's blessing, the bread and the vine by the action of the Holy Spirit become The Body and The Blood of Lord Jesus Christ. These Holy Divine Sacraments are destined for receiving by the believers, which via forgiving the sins and communion with the Lord and with each other into the single body of Church, reach blessful eternal life. "Bless Is The Man" (ancient Kiev monk chant), "O, Gladsome Radiance" ( by P.Rechkunov) and "Now Lettest Thou Depart" (anonymous) are three most beautiful sacred chants of the all-night vigil service. The conductor of the Monastic Choir of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra is hieromonk Geronty. He is also very good singer with very peculiar voice. His solo at" O THEOTOKOS AND VIRGIN REJOYS" is amazing and I'm sure this chant will melt your hart. In the early centuries of the church, Christians sang in unison. The music used was never written out, but simply transmitted orally. The use of instruments in Christian worship was discouraged by the early church fathers (i.e., St. Basil the Great and St. John Chrysostom) as they felt that instrumentation distracted the mind from thoughts of God and turned them toward the self. Traditional praise and worship music of Kiev Pechersk Monastery is unique heritage of the Orthodox liturgical music. The origin of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra sacred chants and praise and worship music is in XI century when inok Anthony, arrived from Aphona, founded the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery. Lavra's sacred chants organically synthesize Byzantine tradition and folk- |
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singing culture of old Rus. Under the influence of south-Slavic tunes Larva's way of singing gained a power and became one of bright characteristics of Ancient Rus. There are only two traditional sacred chants of Kiev-Pechersk monastery on this CD ("From My Youth" and "God With Us") because there is another CD specially dedicated to traditional praise and worship music of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra.
In 1784 Italian conductor and composer J.Sarti (1729-1802) visited Russia. He was so enraptured by Russian Orthodox Church praise and worship music that he left Italy for Russia and till the end of his days he lived and worked there. He wrote many beautiful sacred chants for Russian Orthodox Church and one of his chant is represented on this CD (" O THEOTOKOS AND VIRGIN...)
From ancient times Kolyadkas and Shchedrivkas (Christmas carols) became a symbol of Christmas time. You'll find some original Christmas chants and traditional Christmas Carols at the end of this CD (tracks #20-25).
Listen to Ukrainian Orthodox Christmas carols
by Monastic choir of Kyiv Pechersk Monastery
In 1784 Italian conductor and composer J.Sarti (1729-1802) visited Russia. He was so enraptured by Russian Orthodox Church praise and worship music that he left Italy for Russia and till the end of his days he lived and worked there. He wrote many beautiful sacred chants for Russian Orthodox Church and one of his chant is represented on this CD (" O THEOTOKOS AND VIRGIN...)
From ancient times Kolyadkas and Shchedrivkas (Christmas carols) became a symbol of Christmas time. You'll find some original Christmas chants and traditional Christmas Carols at the end of this CD (tracks #20-25).
Listen to Ukrainian Orthodox Christmas carols
by Monastic choir of Kyiv Pechersk Monastery