Sacred Music

"I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being" (Psalm 103[104]:33).

An important message
about our email:

Finally, the contact link at the bottom of this page is working.
If you have any questions, concerns, suggestions, or requests for music, please use the link at the bottom of this page to do so.
Thank you for your patience!   ---  Chris

Please note: The Registration Form and Agenda for this year's Sacred Music Institute is now available on line.  Click on the link (which is now all the way at the bottom of this page) for the Sacred Music Institute for more information.

  
Welcome to the web site for the Sacred Music Department. We have much information here for you, which changes regularly. Our goal is to provide you with the music you need for celebrating the Liturgical services of the Orthodox Church. Please check back often to find updates to what you need, or write us for what you cannot find.

Our Mission Statement
The mission of the Department of Sacred Music is to provide leadership to the parishes of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese, drawing from the talents of the faithful in order to serve as a resource for the publication of music, to organize workshops and seminars, to build strong ties of communication throughout the Archdiocese, to support the work of missions, and to be a positive influence in the creation of new works of liturgical music for the glory of God and the Holy Orthodox Faith.

For any requests for music, suggestions, comments, or concerns, please use the contact link at the bottom of this page to do so.  Thanks!   -- Chris

UPDATED: July 4, 2008
(To make sure you have an updated page, click the Refresh button on your Internet Browser.)

Click on the words "Music Downloads" to access our music!
Music Downloads

The following NEW updates are now available on our web site, under Music Downloads.

PLEASE NOTE:  All the Feast Day Series are now done.  If there is any other music you need, please let us know.

1. New Music available for "As Many As Have Been Baptized", chant version in Arabic, under
        Group Heading for "As Many"
   
2. Also Available, Music for the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy.  Each is listed in its own section:
      Under A:  for As Many As Have Been Baptized.
      Under B:  for Before Thy Cross.
3.    Under T:  for Trisagion Hymn.
   
4. New! Music for ordinations of deacons and priests. See Ordination Music in Music Downloads.
5. New! Troparia Music for Weddings now available: "O Isaiah, dance thy joy..." in Byzantine chant form, with ison.
6. (Coming soon: whatever else you might need, write to us!  We are currently working on music for the Sacraments of Baptism, Wedding, and Funeral (with Memorial) which will be presented at the Sacred Music Institute at the Antiochian Village July 30 - August 3, 2008.  Hope you can come.

We also now have available our revised and updated Convention Music, 2007 edition.
* To access the complete packet of music, go to Section N, and click on the National Convention Music there.
* For inidividual pieces of the Convention Music, click on the "Music Downloads" link, and then the "Music for the National Convention..." link in the box, which will bring up all of the Convention music individually.

Last year's SMI was held from July 11 - 15, 2007!
We hope you enjoyed being with us, and will come again this year.

Please join us THIS YEAR:
Antiochian Village: July 30 - August 3, 2008
HAVE YOU MADE YOUR RESERVATION YET?

DID YOU KNOW ...

     Previously, it was mentioned that the reading of the Gospel in many languages at Agape Vespers was started in Jerusalem, because many pilgrims from other lands came there at the time of Pascha to visit, and it was important for them to hear the Gospel of the Resurrection preached in their own language. 
     So, ... DID YOU KNOW that the Feast of Pentecost is the fulfillment of all that had previously taken place, so that as the Holy Spirit came upon the Disciples in Jerusalem and they received the tongues of fire, they were now able to go out into all the world and preach the Gospel of Salvation to all nations.  Here is a portion of the Synaxarion of Pentecost:

     " ... This then is the object of the present Feast (Pentecost), namely, the coming of the Holy Spirit into the world, the fulfilment of the promise of Jesus Christ, and the completion of the undefiled Disciples' hope. It is the sequel and the conclusion of the Feasts of the great mystery of the divine Incarnation. On the day corresponding to this day of salvation, the day of Pentecost, the Saviour's Apostles, who were formerly simple fishermen and illiterate, were suddenly instructed by the advent of the Holy Spirit, becoming possessed of the greatest wisdom and speaking plainly of heavenly doctrines. They became preachers of truth and teachers to the whole world. From that day they began the work of their great mission, the wonderful and delectable first-fruit of which was the conversion of three thousand souls on that very same day ... "

     Furthermore, it says in the Book of Acts that after they witnessed Jesus's Ascension into heaven, "... they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away; and when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying ..." (1:12-13a).  The Synaxarion has the following to say about this upper room: 

     "Some hold that the above mentioned upper room, which the Jews used to consider a place of worship and prayer, since it was designated for that purpose, was the same upper room in which the Savior delivered the divine Sacrament of the Eucharist. But others hold that it was in the house of John the Evangelist. Still others think it was in the house of Mary the mother of John, who was known as John Mark (Acts 12:12), where afterwards a church was built and named the Upper Church of the Apostles (mentioned in the 16th Sermon of St Cyril of Jerusalem). Again, there are others who say that it was one of the many upper rooms in the outer court of the Temple, which were open to people who were gathered in the Temple, and prepared for those who cared to enter them. They cite as proof of their claim the words of St Luke, "And they were continually in the Temple, praising and blessing God" (Luke 24;53). It may be noted that the name of Mary the Theotokos is mentioned at this point for the last time in the New Testament."

"We have seen the true Light; we have received the Holy Spirit; we have found the true Faith.  Wherefore, let us worship the indivisible Trinity; for he hath saved us."

"O heavenly King, the Comforter, Spirit of Truth, who art in all places, and fillest all things, Treasury of good things, and Giver of life, come, and take up thine abode in us, and cleanse us from every stain; and save, O good One, our souls."
 

When you look at music on the web site, and wish to download it to replace something else, please look at the footer of the page to see the revision number (Rev. 1, e.g.) or the date to make sure that it is the latest one out there, or at least later than the one you currently have.

Please let me know how I may help you in your parish to make your liturigical experience the best that it can be, to the glory of our God.

Chris

Questions and/or comments may be emailed to Christopher Holwey, Chairman of the Sacred Music Department,
by clicking on the link below, filling out all the section, and clicking on Submit at the bottom of the form.

http://www.antiochian.org/contact/Department_of_Sacred_Music

Thank you!