950 YEARS OF KIEV PECHERSK MONASTERY.
SELECTED CHANTS OF RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

This rare and hard to find music CD represent the best sacred chants and praise and worship music of Russian Orthodox Church performed by the famous Monastic Choir of Kiev Pechersk (Caves) Monastery which for many centuries is the legend and as the magnet attracts thousands visitors and pilgrims.

The first track on this CD is very old and soulful traditional monk chant of Kiev Pechersk monastery "Thy Resurrection" which opens the Easter Day. It's rare and unusual recording of this chant because the monk chanting is accompanied by bells ringing of Big Lavra's Bell Tower.

The next track (Christ's Resurrection by Sergei Rachmaninov) is undoubtedly a rarity. Rachmanov's works are being performed throughout the world. His symphonies, piano concertos and sonatas are well known. STILL, IN THE VAST SPACE OF HIS MUSIC THERE ARE SOME PRESERVED CORNERS. ONE OF WHICH IS HIS SACRED CHANTS AND PRAISE AND WORSHIP MUSIC . When in 1915 the 42-years old Sergei Rachmaninov had turned to the praise and worship music , he was living through a hard period of his life. He confessed he was getting weaker and older and was looking for "air, rest and solitude". The concluding words of this sacred chant bore a special significance for the composer. He stressed the phrase "By Death Shall Death Be Destroyed" by sudden break in the sound dynamics, which turns it into an intimate confession.

"Receive Yea the Body of Christ" is Eucharistic sacred chant. In the meeting of believers after the prayer of the whole Church and the priest's blessing, the bread and the vine by the action of the Holy Spirit become The Body and The Blood of Lord Jesus Christ. These Holy Divine Sacraments are destined for receiving by the believers, which via forgiving the sins and communion with the Lord and with each other into the single body of Church, reach blessful eternal life.

In 1784 Italian conductor and composer J.Sarti (1729-1802) visited Russia. He was so enraptured by Russian Orthodox Church praise and worship music that he left Italy for Russia and till the end of his days he lived and worked there. He wrote many beautiful sacred chants for Russian Orthodox Church and one of his chant is represented on this CD (" O THEOTOKOS AND VIRGIN...)
From ancient times Kolyadkas and Shchedrivkas (Christmas carols) became a symbol of Christmas time. You'll find some original Christmas chants and traditional Christmas Carols at the end of this CD (tracks #20-25).

Listen to Ukrainian Orthodox Christmas carols
by Monastic choir of Kyiv Pechersk Monastery