As part of an outreach effort to the greater community, St. Vladimir’s Church, Lopez, PA will host a free public concert of ancient church hymns on Saturday, March 2, at 2:00. Everyone is welcome to attend this special afternoon of song that will feature the life of Jesus Christ through Orthodox liturgical music.
Rev. Father Nicholas Solak, Dean of the Wilkes-Barre Deanery of the Orthodox Church in America, will offer an explanation of the architecture and iconography found in the 100 year old Lopez church structure, while a trio of nuns from the Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration, Ellwood City, PA will present the musical program. The trio is made up of Rev. Mother Christophora, Abbess, with Sister Martha and musical director, Sister Helene.
Church hymns dating back to the fifth and seventh centuries by St. Roman the Melodist, St. Andrew of Crete, St. John of Damascus and St. Cosmas the Hymnographer will be sung in settings of ancient Byzantine Chant, Carpatho-Russian Chant and Russian Choral Music, including an arrangement of the Christmas Kontakion by the 18th century Russian composer, Dimitri Bortniansky. All of the hymns will be sung in English, although the Easter Hymn, “Christ is Risen” will be sung in a number of languages.
Following the hour long program everyone is invited for free refreshments at St. Vladimir’s Fellowship Hall.
A flyer for this event can be found HERE.