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On January 14, 2012, the liturgical singers of the Abbey of Sylvanes, France, conducted by Fr. Andre Gusa gave a concert at the International House of Music in Moscow as part of the 2nd Christmas Festival. They sang Gregorian chorals, old French folk songs and author compositions.

The artistic director of the team is a Dominican priest and composer who has served in the Sylvanes Abbey for over 35 years. He welcomed the audience in the Svetlanov Hall, singling out Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, who marked on that day the 10th anniversary of his episcopal consecration. Among the audience were also guests from Local Orthodox Churches who had come to Moscow for Metropolitan Hilarion’s celebrations.

‘Today’s event is a great joy for us’, Fr. Andre Gusa said, describing the concert as an expression of good and friendly attitude to the Russian people. He spoke about his abbey, which is one of the centres of Western church music, pointing to the importance of Russian spirituality. ‘To be closer to the Russian people, we have built a wooden church in Russian traditions. And we pray and sing in it’, he said.

The event took place with the support of the French Embassy and the French Institute in Moscow.

The next concert of the 2nd Christmas Festival will take place on January 17. The Greek choir ‘Ergastiri Psaltikis’ will perform.

DECR Communication Service