First performance of Divine Liturgy composed by Bishop Hilarion of Vienna and Austria

On July 6, 2006, the Day of the Miracle-Working Icon of Our Lady of Vladimir, Archpriest Nikolay Sokolov assisted by Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, DECR vice-chairman, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas’s-at-Tolmachi.

During the service, the Divine Liturgy composed by Bishop Hilarion (Alfeyev) of Vienna and Austria for a four-part choir was performed for the first time. The composer in his time studied composition at the Moscow State Conservatoire. The music of the Liturgy he had completed several days before the service organically combines Russian church singing tradition and elements of modern musical language. The music is characterized by the clarity and simplicity of harmony, inner integrity and radiant prayerful elevation.

The Divine Liturgy was performed by the choir of the St. Nicholas’s Church of the Tretyakov Gallery, conducted by Alexey Puzakov.

This event became a kind of the final chord of the World Summit of Religious Leaders as it was competing its work in Moscow. Among the worshippers were Orthodox participants in the summit including Metropolitans Daniel of Sukhumi and Abkhazia and Nikolay of Kutaisi, Georgian Orthodox Church, as well as Vatican’s Apostolic Nuncio in Russia, Archbishop Antonio Mennini.

After the dismissal, Bishop Hilarion led a thanksgiving at the miracle-working Icon of Our Lady of Kazan.