Orthodox worship is sung worship. Holy Scripture is chanted in an elevated style distinct from ordinary speech. Prayers and petitions are chanted by the clergy; the faithful, led by the choir, sing in response. The choir sings without instrumental accompaniment as Church tradition teaches us that the human voice alone is capable of uttering rational praise. It also teaches us that our voices, when united in the liturgical worship of the Holy Trinity, represent, as an icon, the unity of the Holy Orthodox faith – its teaching about who Jesus Christ has revealed Himself to be and who we are called by Him to become.
Church music is carefully ordered by liturgical cycles that govern what is properly sung at each hour of the day, on each day of the year, and throughout each season of the Church's liturgical year. In addition, hymnody is organized according to the system of Eight Church Tones (Octoechos) which have been used for centuries in all the various Orthodox worship traditions. At St. Seraphim Cathedral, worship is conducted in English with a majority of Church singing done according to the Russian-style practice, although hymnody from other traditions (including contemporary American) is sung.
The choir is led by Reader Nicholas Paraskevas, who has been a member of the parish since 1980. Other Choir members who lead services include Mat. Inga Kroll, Rdr. Chrysostom Arthur, Olga Reyes, and Lydia Paraskevas.
The choir rehearses every Sunday at 8:30am in preparation for the morning's Divine Liturgy and at 4:30pm in preparation of Saturday evening Resurrection Vigil. Other special rehearsals are scheduled on a few evenings several times throughout the year: before Nativity and Theophany, before Holy Week, during the summer.
We welcome new singers. We ask, however, that new singers first discuss their participation with the St Seraphim clergy. We also ask all singers to commit to regular participation in the Divine Services, to punctual participation in rehearsals, and to a faithful effort to improve their skills as time and talent will allow. Those interested in singing should contact Nicholas Paraskevas.
Divine Liturgy
For Entrance & Vesting of Bishop
From the rising to the setting of the sun – Traditional
Meet it is – Greek chant (Lvov)
Ton Dhespotin – Traditional
Thy soul shall rejoice in the Lord – Kievan chant, Tone 7
Eis polla eti, Dhespota (trio) - Bortniansky
Antiphons
First Typica antiphon – Greek chant (antiphonal style)
Second Typica antiphon – Greek chant (antiphonal style)
First Typica antiphon – Krasnostovsky
Second Typica antiphon – Krasnostovsky
First Daily Antiphon – Znamenny chant
Second Daily Antiphon – Znamenny chant
Third Daily Antiphon – Znamenny chant
Only-begotten Son
Byzantine (Sakellarides)
Soloviev
Beatitudes
Greek chant
Zboinka
Moscow chant
Rimsky Korsakov
Eisodicon
Common chant
Serbian, Tone 4
Troparia & Kontakia
O Protection of Christians - Canon melody
O Protection of Christians – Tone 8
Trisagion
O Lord, save the pious
Holy God – Common chant, Hierarchical
Holy God – Beljaeff
Holy God – Kievan chant
Holy God – Moscow chant
Prokeimena & Alleluia
Tone 1 – Znamenny chant
Tone 2 – Znamenny chant
Tone 3 – Znamenny chant
Tone 4 – Znamenny chant
Tone 5 – Znamenny chant
Tone 6 – Znamenny chant
Tone 7 – Znamenny chant
Tone 8 – Znamenny chant
Alleluia – common chant
Alleluia – Moscow chant
At the Gospel
Common chant, Kievan chant
Cherubim Hymn
1. Bortnyansky No. 5
2. Greek chant, Smolensky
3. “Sofronievskaya”
4. Old “Simonovskaya” (n. 69)
5. SAG
6. Archangelsky No. 5
7. Lomakin
8. “Streletskaya,” Smolensky
9. Kastorsky
10. “Sofronievskaya,” Kastalsky
11. Kievo-Pecherskaya Lavra
Creed
Akathist melody
Anaphora
1. A. Glagolev
2. SAG
3. Feofanofskoye
4. Lirin
5. Kievan, Ledkovsky
6. Archangelsky, E-flat
7. Kedroff
8. TBD
9. Archangelsky, e minor
10. Yaroslav chant
To the Theotokos
Meet it is – Common chant, Tone 8
Meet it is – Bulgarian, Tone 6
Meet it is – “Joy of the Heavenly Hosts”
In thee rejoiceth – Znamenny, (Fr. H. Madison)
The Angel Cried – Valaam chant, Balakirev
Our Father
Rimsky-Korsakov
Koinonika – 1
Psalm 148
Psalm 22
Psalm 23
Psalm 111
Psalm 32
Hymns of Preparation
Koinonika – 2
Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord
Receive ye the Body of Christ – Common chant
Receive ye the Body of Christ – Moscow chant, Fortunatto
Receive ye the Body of Christ – Kievo-Pecherskoye melody
Receive ye the Body of Christ – Valaam chant, Kovalevsky/Zhavorenkov
Receive ye the Body of Christ – Alaskanmelody
Receive ye the Body of Christ – Kedrov
We have seen the True Light/Let our mouths be filled/Litany
Byzantine (Sakellarides)
Common chant, Tone 2
Novgorod chant
Kedroff
Psalm 33
Blessed be the Name of the Lord - Common Chant
Blessed be the Name of the Lord Bortniansky
Psalm 33 – Common chant
Psalm 33 – Kievan Monastery of the Caves
Dismissal
Common chant
Litanies
Great Litany
Little Litany
Litany of Supplication
Litany for the Catechumens
Litany for the Departed
Morning/Evening Litany
Litany of the Prothesis
After the Megalinarion; before the Lord’s Prayer
Kephaloklista (Bow your heads unto the Lord)
Vespers
O Gladsome Light - Dvoretsky
O Theotokos Virgin, rejoice - 1 - Common chant, Tone 4
O Theotokos Virgin, rejoice - 2 - Galician chant
O Theotokos Virgin, rejoice - 3 - Greek chant
O Theotokos Virgin, rejoice - 4 - A. Archangelsky (adapted)
O Theotokos Virgin, rejoice - 5 - Kievo-Greek chant
O Theotokos Virgin, rejoice - 6 - Rachmaninoff
