Christian Caravan - Byzantine Music Tour
November 16, Brașov State Philharmonic - Patria Hall, 7:00 PM
This autumn, Byzantine music ignites the heart of Romanian Orthodox Christians. With a living tradition of over 1000 years, Byzantine music is a prayer that works wonderfully to give those who listen to it a foretaste of heaven on earth.
The "Kyrios" Psalm Group along with Ana Nuță and Father Alexandru Grigoraș will perform traditional Byzantine music, Father Vasile Ioana will give a speech about psaltic music, and Tronos Junior will bring to the stage a little of the wonderful world of the little ones. The concert is presented by Daniel Buzdugan.
The event is organized with the Blessing of His Holiness Dr. Laurentiu Streza, Archbishop of Sibiu and Metropolitan of Transylvania.
The event will also include projections and presentations related to our feature documentary, "Sounds of Byzantium", which explores the history, significance, and impact of Byzantine music across various cultures and disciplines, including art, science, and therapy.
Besides the live concert, there will be discussions and presentations focused on Christian education, the importance of prayer, promoting moral and spiritual values, and encouraging a deeper understanding of Orthodox traditions.
The event will feature a photo exhibition of icons created by church painter Costel Olărean under the guidance of Fr. Associate Professor Adrian-Cristian Mazilița, icons that adorn the Festive Hall of the Eparchial Center of the Diocese of Severin. This exhibition was realized with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Nicodim of Severin and Strehaia. The photo gallery will also summarily present fundamental theoretical elements of Byzantine music, as well as images of melodes, hymnographers, and protopsalts who have labored throughout history for the evolution of this art, starting with the image of Saint Prophet David, continuing with the period from the 2nd to the 20th centuries, and ending with Saint Nectarios Protopsaltos.
Additionally, exhibition visitors will have the possibility to access online the study titled: A History of Byzantine Music in Images - Faces of Melodes, Hymnographers, and Protopsalts, conducted by Fr. Associate Professor Adrian Cristian Mazilița from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Craiova. Download the study here: https://armonialumina.com/
Artists:
Artists: The Kyrios Psalm Chior, Father Vasile Ioana, Father Alexandru Grigoraș, Ana Nuță, and Tronos Junior
Presenter: Daniel Buzdugan
I will sing to the Lord in my life, I will sing to my God while I have my being.
May my words be pleasing to Him, and I will rejoice in the Lord.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
- Psalm 103 -
ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
The Kyrios Psalm Choir
The Kyrios Psalm Choir was founded in 2017 by the initiative of talented and enthusiastic young people eager to bring back the Byzantine melos into the cultural vibration of Brașov. The choir aims to be a pillar of promoting cultural and spiritual values, keeping Byzantine traditions alive and relevant both in the Romanian cultural landscape and internationally.
Father Vasile Ioana
Father Vasile Ioana is one of the most beloved priests in the country and will give a speech on psaltic music. He is the Parish Priest of "St. Nicholas of a Day" Church. Father Vasile Ioana is an important figure in the Orthodox community of Bucharest, having a significant impact through his media activity. Inspired by great spiritual fathers such as Father Cleopa and Father Arsenie Papacioc, Father Ioana manages to bring profound teachings to the faithful. Through participation in radio and TV shows, he addresses topics of general interest and brings Orthodox teachings into relevance.
Father Alexandru Grigoraș
Father Alexandru Grigoraș is a conductor and psaltic music teacher and a member of the "Byzantion" Academic Choir. He was an archdeacon of the Archdiocesan Cathedral in Roman (Neamț County). Currently, he is the Protopresbyter in Sascut Sat Parish in the Roman Archdiocese. As a member of the "Byzantion" Choir, he participated in various Byzantine music festivals in Russia, Poland, Estonia, France, Spain, Italy, and Lebanon.
Ana Nuță
She is the young woman who made Andra cry at the "Romanians Have Talent" show, received the Golden Buzz, and impressed an entire country with her unique voice and impressive life story. Ana felt in church that psaltic music was her calling. When she was young, she started singing spontaneously in church, and those around her were fascinated by her.
Tronos Junior
Tronos Junior is the children's psaltic group of the Romanian Patriarchate and was established in January 2023 at Mavrocordat Pavilion Parish by Archdeacon Mihail Bucă together with project coordinator Ioan Balaban. Dozens of children will sing church music and bring the joy of holy words into the hearts.
"I invite you to join this Christian caravan, where Byzantine music is seen not only as an artistic form but also as a sacred vehicle for prayer, meditation, and spiritual communion, to highlight the connection between Byzantine music and the spiritual practice of the Orthodox Church."
"Let's embark together on a journey of Byzantine music. For if we are together, our faith grows." Mina Cristiana, President of the Cultural Association "Armonia lu’mina"
Whether we call it Byzantine music, psaltic music, or Orthodox church music, it is uniformly encountered across the entire Orthodox geographical space from Constantinople in the Balkans, the Middle East, Africa, and occasionally in the Russian space.
Born at the beginning of Christianity, Byzantine singing, a unique musical genre transmitted by the Orthodox Church, has survived to this day, leading to its inclusion in 2019 on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. In the current Orthodox Church, several churches use Byzantine chant as the first liturgical tradition, including those in Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Romania, Serbia, Greece, and Cyprus."
"It is truly remarkable and commendable that lay people, such as Mina Cristiana, dedicate time and effort to exploring and presenting this form of sacred art. Through such initiatives, Byzantine music, a treasure of cultural and spiritual heritage, is brought closer to the hearts and minds of contemporary people." Protopsalt of the Romanian Patriarchate, Archdeacon Mihail Bucă, Conductor of the Psaltic Choir of the Romanian Patriarchal Cathedral, Tronos.
"The Christian Caravan" is more than a musical tour—it is an opportunity to inspire, educate, and connect the audience with its cultural and spiritual heritage.
It is a campaign to promote Byzantine music with the goal of raising funds for the production of the film "Sounds of Byzantium".
We invite you all to join in this journey, promoting the beauty of Byzantine music and Christian values.
Organizer
The Cultural Association "Armonia lu’mina" has as its mission the promotion of Byzantine music, Christian values, and the religious and cultural heritage of Orthodox Romania. Its main project is the film production, the feature documentary "Sounds of Byzantium" about the history of Byzantine music and its role in art, science, and therapy.
The title Christian Caravan was inspired by the Christian film channel Film Caravan, symbolizing a journey of faith and unity. This tour, which traverses Romania, brings together psalters and psaltic choirs from multiple countries, creating a spiritual connection through music and art. Their voices create a link between different cultures, uniting people in a shared faith experience.
A special element of the event is the tour's logo, which uses a font created by Father Cristian Alexandru, composer and member of the "Tronos" Psalm Group of the Romanian Patriarchate. This adds extra tradition and faith to the visual identity of the tour, giving it an authentic and profound touch.
This event is organized with the purpose of raising the necessary funds for the production of the film "Sounds of Byzantium". The value of the tickets collected will be donated to the Cultural Association "Armonia lu’mina" https://armonialumina.com/doneaza/
Sponsors: Smith&Smith, Dacris, Serigraphic, Olympus Romania,
Partners: Brașov Philharmonic, Kyrios Association, Normedia, Media Tv
Media partners: Prima Tv, Radio Da, RTVD, Euroetnic
