On Sunday December 13, 2015, the choir of St. Nicholas Church of Bethlehem presented its annual inspiring Christmas concert.   The superb singing was directed by Reader Nicholas Lezinsky.   The program,  which attracted many from the community,  featured two parts, liturgical hymns and traditional carols.  The presentation,  accompanied by appropriate commentary,  began with the Valaam chant “O House of Ephrata” sung in the canon style, followed by Smirnoff’s “Snami Boh”.   The program continued with nine other hymns from the cycle of Nativity services,  ending with the Romanian chant of the Hymn to the Theotokos.

After a brief intermission,   Russian, Austrian, and German carols were sung in both Russian and English.  The afternoon concluded with the Christmas concerto “Greatly Rejoice”,  the candlelight singing of “Silent Night”  by all those present, and the traditional “God grant you Many Years”.   The 100 attendees were very appreciative of the joyful and uplifting singing and were invited to enjoy light refreshments with the choir.   Rector of the parish is Very Reverend James Weremedic.