Great Lent

Icon illustrating the spiritual principle of carnal detachment and spiritual ascent outlined in the Ladder of Divine Ascent by St. John Climacus.

A collection of Byzantine Hymns, sung in English, as well as our own original Contemporary Christian Music.

Featuring English-language arrangements of traditional Russian, Serbian, and Greek chants, as well as new compositions by seminary faculty and alumni, sung by the January 2007 Chorale which toured New England, and the chapel male choir, directed by Deacon Kevin Smith. Recorded at the Church of our Saviour in Rye, NY.

The Akathist Hymn is a Service of the Orthodox Church that invites the faithful to rejoice in the unique and sublime role the Virgin Mary played in the salvation of mankind.

Why are modern Christians so indistinguishable from everyone else? What did the Christians of the first centuries know that we don't? That's what this book is about.

In his meditations, Fr. Hopko draws on his long experience as a pastor and teacher, working with young and old throughout the country, to present to the modern reader the relevance of the Church's two-thousand-year-old tradition of preparing to greet our Lord's Resurrection.

Bishop Kallistos Ware shows the meaning of Orthodox doctrine for the life of the individual Christian. Doctrinal issues are seen not as abstract propositions for theological debate but as affected the whole of life.

Professor Kesich expertly addresses questions of anti-Semitism and the family quarrels between Jews and Christians in the historical context as well as explaining the trial of Jesus and the purpose of His suffering.

A Greek and English text. The translation of the English is set to the meter of the original Byzantine hymns. Softcover

Selections from the All-Night Vigil of the Orthodox Church
liturgical music on compact disc

Kevin Smith, director
Mark Bailey, associate director
Sung by the choirs of St Vladimir's Seminary

Jubilant antiphonal singing and responsorial psalmody, chants, and anthems include, among others:

• Gladsome Light, Igor Dvoretsky
• The Great Doxology, Boris Ledkovsky
• St Symeon's Prayer, Mark Bailey
• Psalm 103, Fr Sergei Glagolev
• The Polyeleon (Psalms 134, 135), Mount Athos melody
• The Evlogitaria of the Resurrection, Boris Ledkovsky
• Saturday Evening Prokeimenon, Carpatho-Rusyn chant arranged by Fr Paul Jannakos.