History of the Choir
In the beginning
In 1971, thanks to the efforts of Metropolitan Nicodemus (Rotov) the choir of the
Leningrad diocese clergy was established in St. Petersburg. Under the direction of
Archdeacon Paul Gerasimov, it participated in the solemn Episcopal celebrations and
diocesan festivities. The choir existed until Bishop Nicodemus’ death and was revived
with the arrival of the Leningrad Department of Metropolitan Alexei at the Leningrad
chair, who was later to become Patriarch Aleksei II. The choir has performed on the
stages of the Kirov Ballet and the Academic Capella, and took part in 1988 in the
celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the Baptism of Russia.
The recent history of the choir began in 2008, when efforts to revive it were made
a group of graduates of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy. Since 2010, Yuri
Gerasimov, a cleric of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration became the chief choir
director. In recent years the choir sees active concert, touring and liturgical activities,
performs in churches and concert halls of St. Petersburg and other cities of Russia, the
CIS and abroad.
Mission
The Choir of the Saint-Petersburg Metropolitan Clergy consists of active clergy. This
is not just another concert group, but the meeting of pastors who have a burning desire
to preach the Word of God by means of chants and show others the power and beauty
of prayer. Each of the members of the choir is obedient to a parish: he serves, teaches,
educates… But there comes a time when they all come together to unite their voices in
the harmonious sound of Orthodox chant. The audience has become especially fond of
the format of the concert-sermon. The heartfelt sermons of priest Elias Makarov and the
singing of the cathedral clergy do not leave anyone indifferent.
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