“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts—as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:15,16)
Our nation’s pop culture is enthralled with the television program American Idol. One singer is selected from among hundreds of contestants voted by the public to be awarded the title. We Christians, like Jews, are reluctant, even averse, to making idols of anything or anybody; nevertheless, throughout my life I’ve honored the singers who have enhanced my spiritual growth. They include choirmasters and choir singers who lift up our prayers and lay them at the holy throne of the Almighty. They give another meaning to the famous phrase of Dostoevsky: “Beauty shall save the world.” In each cycle of our prayer life—the daily cycle, the monthly cycle of saints, the liturgical year from The Birth to the Dormition of the blessed Theotokos—songs are sung for our salvation. From the joy of baptism through the poignant passing in falling asleep of our beloved, the choir sings praises to our Lord. One non-Orthodox family member noted: “It sounded as if they were bearing up Dad’s soul to heaven.” And unlike the TV program, it’s done in harmony of many voices, not in competition or to select one singer, but to add our hymns to the sounds of many across the globe and in heavenly places.
From my childhood to the present I’ve been gloriously blessed with loveliness of choir music. From my earliest years I recall hearing the voices of my grandfather’s choir. After that to the seminary singers and on to the New York City cathedral’s magnificent choir led by Nicolai P. Afonsky. Then through over four decades here listening to our beloved choir of Holy Trinity, the sound of harmonious prayers fills my soul with joy. When I reflect on my various visits to countries outside of the USA, I remember all the churches, cathedrals and monasteries I’ve visited, and most of all I call up the awesome sounds of the choirs: So many in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, especially in Russia and Paris, or as in the main church of St. Sergius monastery, where the inner part of the icon screen is a catwalk on which unseen from the nave the monks stand, tenors at the top and basses near the bottom, sounding as though it were the saints on the icons singing from the altar. The beauty of worship is enhanced by the varieties of styles from country to country and from one era to another. Many in our time are intent on simplicity rather than polyphony in prayer, simple singing done by the congregation rather than exotic renditions requiring experienced, even professional singers. It’s a matter of taste and of the times in which we live.
Orthodox Christians give a new meaning to the phrase: “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live.” And we do normally with a spiritual remuneration, unlike the winners of the American Idol who expect and receive monetary rewards. And I might add singers I’ve heard match and surpass the voices of our nation’s pop singers. We have raised countless generations of believers who count it an honor to raise their prayers to the Lord by returning the gifts of their beautiful voices to the Giver of those gifts. Even those who have made a professional career in singing often thank the Lord by singing in church choirs.
And what shall it be like in the Kingdom of heaven, after this lifetime is completed? All indications from the sacred scriptures reveal choirs of angels and saints making melody with songs of joy and praise to the Holy Trinity. No soloists, none standing out from the rest, but euphoria in blending with the voices from all the ages into one magnificent tribute in song to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.