Home page News
Presentation of collections of Sacred Hymns i…

Presentation of collections of Sacred Hymns in Chinese was held in Moscow

DECR Communication Service, 20.11.2024.

On November 18, the Russian-Chinese cultural center "Firebird" hosted the presentation of musical publications prepared by the center in 2024 with the support of the Chinese Patriarchal Metochion in Moscow and financial assistance from the "Russkiy Mir" Foundation, as reported by the Metochion's website.

The event showcased the "Two-Voice Liturgy in Chinese Based on Ancient Chants" and the bilingual "Collection of Sacred Songs in Russian and Chinese", which includes hymns for the Nativity and Pascha, as well as Russian spiritual and folk songs and canticles.

The opening remarks were delivered by Hieromonk Kirill (Peregudin), an employee of the DECR and a cleric of the Chinese Metochion, who served as the curator of the publishing project. He spoke about the origins of the project, its participants, and how the first copies of the hymn collections had already been distributed to priests and choir directors of Orthodox communities in China.

During the presentation, the author and compiler of the collections, musicologist and choir director Olesya Lesina, a graduate of the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory, shared the story behind the creation of the collections. She detailed the process of arranging the music, collaborating with translators, and working with other project participants. Father Alexei Yusupov, secretary of the Chinese Metochion and coordinator of the translation team for the "Two-Voice Liturgy", illustrated some of the unique features and challenges of translating Orthodox liturgical texts. He also discussed the translation group's efforts to standardize Orthodox terminology.

The illustrator of the "Collection of Sacred Songs," artist Irina Vlasova, was also present at the event. She gifted Christmas postcards featuring her artwork to all attendees.

At the conclusion of the presentation, the choir of the Chinese Metochion performed several hymns from the published collections.

***

The history of Orthodoxy in China dates back to the second half of the 17th century, during the establishment of the Russian Orthodox Mission in China. However, a stable and time-tested tradition of Orthodox singing in Chinese has not fully developed over the history of the Chinese Orthodox Church, leaving ample room for experimentation and creative exploration. This is particularly relevant today, as modern China places significant emphasis on the "Sinicization" of religious traditions.

The first publication is based on ancient Orthodox hymns that form the foundation of church singing traditions, including Znamenny, Byzantine, and other chants in two-voice arrangements, as well as stylized compositions by contemporary spiritual composers. The text of the collection draws on modern Orthodox, Protestant, and Catholic translations, as well as the translation work of Saint Gurias of Tauris and Metropolitan Innocent (Figurovsky), leaders of the Beijing Ecclesiastical Mission. At the same time, some existing translations were significantly revised, and certain texts were translated anew.

The second publication, a bilingual collection of sacred hymns in Russian and Chinese, is designed to introduce Chinese people to Orthodox musical culture and church holidays through the singing tradition. It is intended for both Chinese people living in Russia and abroad, as well as Russian speakers learning Chinese. The book is richly illustrated, adding a deeper layer of meaning to the hymn texts.

Share:
Phone conversation took place between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and His Beatitude Patriarch John of Antioch

12.12.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill expressed sympathy and full support to the Primate of the Antiochian Orthodox Church

12.12.2024

The Primate of the Russian Church is fervently praying for the Patriarch, bishops, clergy, and flock of the Antiochian Church

12.12.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill meets with the Chairman of the Senate of the Republic of Kazakhstan

22.11.2024

Phone conversation took place between the Primates of Russian and Serbian Orthodox Churches

17.11.2024

Telephone conversation held between His Holiness Patriarch Kirill and the Primate of the Malankara Church of India

01.11.2024

Address by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill at the VIII World Congress of Compatriots Living Abroad

30.10.2024

Order of Right-Believing Prince Daniel of Moscow presented to Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk by Patriarch Kirill

24.10.2024

Primate of the Russian Church celebrates Divine Liturgy in the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius Lavra on the commemoration day of St. Sergius of Radonezh

09.10.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates Little Vespers and Akathistos hymn to St. Sergius in the Lavra of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius

07.10.2024

Message from the Primate of the Russian Church to His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia in connection with blasphemous act on the ruins of ancient Ulpiana

14.09.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates on the feast of the 300th anniversary of the transfer of relics of St.Alexander Nevsky to St. Petersburg

12.09.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill celebrates All-night Vigil at the Christ the Savior Cathedral on the eve of Transfiguration

18.08.2024

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' met with the Ambassador of India to Russia

30.07.2024

Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Awa III: Ukrainian government’s support for schism and persecution of the major canonical Church is a religious pogrom against the faithful Orthodox Christians of that country

24.07.2024

Metropolitan Hilarion: Many things in a person's life depend on faith

29.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Holy Spirit is the main treasure of the Christian soul

01.08.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: Holiness is a constant striving to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ

27.06.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: God does not want to condemn, but to save us

07.03.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord always grants to us the opportunity to display our talents

24.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: The Lord has imbued the waters of Jordan with his divine presence to wash away human sins

19.01.2021

Metropolitan Hilarion: to repent means to change your way of life

17.01.2021

On commemoration day of St. Catherine, Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk officiated at the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr In-the-Fields  the representation of the Orthodox Church in America

07.12.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We can always show compassion for people

29.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion celebrates on commemoration day of St. Varlaam of Khutyn at the church of ‘Joy to All the Afflicted’ icon of the Mother of God

19.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: We should remember that the life of each human being is in the hands of God

06.11.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: For God there is nothing impossible

25.10.2020

Metropoplitan Hilarion: The cross which was an instrument of dishonourable execution becomes the symbol of salvation for millions of people

27.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Eucharist is the wedding feast, to which Lord Jesus Christ invites each of us

13.09.2020

Metropolitan Hilarion: Faith alone is not enough for salvation

30.08.2020

Page is available in the following languages
Feedback

Fields marked by * are mandatory required

Send a message
Рус Укр Eng Deu Ελλ Fra Ita Бълг ქარ Срп Rom عرب