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With One Voice:
Sacred Chant, Liturgical Function, and Orthodox Theology
Attend the Keynote Address & Evening Program in Person or Online
What does sacred chant do from the perspective of liturgy? Though their worship traditions differ profoundly, the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches share a distinct ethos and theological vision of liturgy, in which music does far more than adorn prayer.
In his keynote address, “With One Voice: Sacred Chant, Liturgical Function, and Orthodox Theology,” His Grace Bishop Daniel Findikyan will explore how sacred chant is integral to the liturgy’s very operation, “energizing” it and thus enabling it to build up the Church as the Body of Christ. This insight has profound implications for the Orthodox Church’s (and Churches’) central task and mission today.
The keynote will be part of St. Vladimir’s Seminary’s Colloquium on Oriental Orthodox Liturgical Music in Theological Education. Bishop Daniel will deliver the address on Thursday, October 29, at 7 p.m. (EST), in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium. The evening program will also include a performance of Ethiopian Orthodox liturgical chants by a vocal ensemble from St. John the Baptist Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Boston, MA. A reception will follow.
Register to Attend in Person or Online
The Colloquium on Oriental Orthodox Liturgical Music in Theological Education is the culmination of a series of events, organized by the Seminary’s Institute of Sacred Arts (ISA), exploring commonalities and differences in Eastern and Oriental Orthodox approaches to sung worship. In 2024 the Seminary held a colloquium highlighting Eastern Orthodox liturgical singing. Last May the Seminary hosted Exploring the Orient: Syriac & Armenian Liturgical Chant, and earlier this October held a workshop on Coptic liturgical music. These events have all been made possible through generous grants from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (CICW), Grand Rapids, MI, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc.
Bishop Daniel is one of several expert liturgical music practitioners and scholars from various traditions who are gathering at St. Vladimir’s Seminary for this Colloquium on Oriental Orthodox Liturgical Music. Along with His Grace’s keynote, the Colloquium (Thursday and Friday, October 29–30) will consist of presentations and panel discussions led by:
- Dr. Gabriel Aydin
- Dr. Peter C. Bouteneff
- Dr. Daniel Girgis
- Dr. Habtemichael Kidane
- Dr. Alexander Lingas
- Fr. Arsenius Mikhail
- Dn. Harrison Russin
- Dr. Ani Shahinian
- Dr. Haig Utidjian
- Juliana Woodill
In addition to the keynote address and evening program October 29, members of the public are also welcome to attend any other part of the Colloquium in person. While only the keynote address will be livestreamed, recordings of all presentations and panel discussions held October 29–30 may be made available to the public at a later date.
ABOUT THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Bishop Daniel Findikyan is the former Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America and is Professor of Liturgical Studies at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary in Armonk, New York. Prior to his election as Primate in May 2018 he served as Director of the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center of the Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern), New York.
Bishop Daniel is a member of the brotherhood of the Holy See of Etchmiadzin. He earned his doctorate in Liturgical Studies from the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, where he studied under the late Robert F. Taft. S.J. He previously earned the Master of Arts degree in Musicology from the City University of New York and the Master of Divinity degree from St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and St. Nersess Armenian Seminary.
Having published numerous articles in scholarly journals and books, Bishop Daniel served as the general editor of an innovative and acclaimed Divine Liturgy “pew book,” used throughout the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America, and has served as a model for similar liturgical books in other churches and jurisdictions.
Bishop Daniel is also a founding member of the Society of Oriental Liturgy and served as its President from 2016–2018. He is a member of several other academic and ecumenical organizations.
ABOUT THE INSTITUTE OF SACRED ARTS
The Institute of Sacred Arts (ISA) at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary explores the intersection of human creativity and holiness. With a theology that is holistic, and a liturgy that unites multiple artistic disciplines and all the human senses, the Orthodox Christian tradition is ripe for the exploration and celebration of the sacred arts. Since its founding in 1938, St. Vladimir’s Seminary has fostered the study of icons, music, and liturgy. The ISA serves to extend the seminary’s mission in exploring the mutual relationship between theology and the arts by: contributing to the work of people and institutions that practice and reflect on the sacred arts; engaging people and institutions of all backgrounds with Orthodox artistic tradition; inspiring wider public interest in spirituality and the arts. Learn more at www.instituteofsacredarts.com.
