Choir of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius Lavra and the Moscow Theological Academy gives concerts in India

DECR Communication Service, 26.11.2024.

Fr om November 18 to 21, the combined choir of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius Lavra and the Moscow Theological Academy, led by hieromonk Nestor (Volkov), visited India and gave concerts organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the Federal State Budgetary Institution of Culture ‘Rosconcert’, the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations (DECR), and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church as part of the project "Russian Concert Programs in India". Representing the DECR was hieromonk Stefan (Igumnov), secretary for inter-Christian relations.

On November 19, the choristers visited the theological seminary in Kottayam, Kerala, wh ere they attended a divine service and met with the faculty and students. On the same day, the choir sang for a large audience at the Mammen Mappilai Hall. The concert was attended by the Primate of the Malankara Church, His Holiness Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, who addressed the choir and the audience with a welcome speech. Among the listeners there were also hierarchs and clergymen of Indian Churches. Hieromonk Stefan greeted those gathered on behalf of the delegation fr om Russia.

On November 20, the choir of the Russian Orthodox Church sang at the Church of Ss Peter and Paul in Parumala, Kerala, one of the main cathedrals of the Malankara Church, wh ere the relics of St. Gregorios of Parumala, who is revered by Indian Christians, are resting. Hundreds of parishioners and pilgrims came to listen to the choir fr om Russia. The program of concerts included church chants, for example, the troparion of the feast of the Holy Trinity and the kontakion from the akathist hymn to St. Sergius of Radonezh. Along with sacred music, the choir sang such famous songs as "Moscow Nights" and "Evening in the Harbor" by Vasily Solovyov-Sedoy, "Twelve Robbers", “They Call Russia Holy”, and many others.

That same day, the choristers visited the Mount Tabor Monastery in the city of Pathanapuram located near the place wh ere archimandrite Andronik (Yelpidinsky), a notable Russian missionary of the 20th century, used to live. The guests were greeted by His Grace Dr. Joseph Mar Dionysius, Metropolitan of Kollam diocese, and the brethren of the monastery.

On November 21, His Holiness Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Mathews III gave a reception in honour of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, during which he thanked the choir for sharing the beauty of Russian sacred music.

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Choir of the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius Lavra and the Moscow Theological Academy gives concerts in India

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons

Patriarch

Department Chairman

Sermons