Head of the DECR Communications Service lectures in Limerick on the theological foundations of Orthodox musical tradition

On 15 April 2010, the of the DECR Communications Service, the Revd. Georgy Zavershinsky delivered a lecture on the “Theological Foundations of the Orthodox Musical Tradition” at the World Music Centre, University of Limerick, Ireland, to continue a series of lectures with the blessing of Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations. Fr. Georgy began to read lectures in Ireland in 2004.

Fr. Georgy said that Orthodox choir singing was a profoundly liturgical in its essence. The Greek words ‘chorus’ (choir) and “koinonia’ (communion) are synonyms. Therefore, choir singing with its of angelic origin shows reflects liturgical communion shared by members of the Orthodox community. He underscored that divine liturgy of the time (chronos) finds its completion in the eschatology of liturgical time (kairos) when celebrated by the plenitude of believers.

Representatives of different religious traditions attended Fr. Georgy’s lectures and listened attentively and with interest to Orthodox hymns of Znamenny chant and part-singing. Students of the World Musical Centre sang pieces from the Rachmaninov’s ‘All-Night Vigil.’