Customer Reviews

Divine Liturgy in English in Byzantine Chant

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There are many people who would claim that the Greek Orthodox Liturgy could never be sung in English. They insist that the meaning of the words could never be conveyed in anything other than Byzantine Greek, and that it would be impossible to get words to fit Byzantine melodies.

This recording uses the official Archdiocese of Thyateira translation and uses well chosen Byzantine chants including some that have been composed for this recording according to the accompaning booklet. The result is quite sublime. The sound is traditional Greek Byzantine but the words are in clear English. It has the affect of breaking down the cultural barriers can can exist between Greek and English Orthodox, whilst having an appeal to a general audiance. It is a magnificent achievement. Highly recommendable.

This is the next best thing to attending the Divine Liturgy in person at an Orthodox parish. The Byzantine melodies are like none I have heard at any Orthodox service. Beautiful and amazing, and all in English.

Very beautiful music expertly sung. That the texts sung on this CD are in English make this recording especially accessible to those wishing to learn more about Eastern Christian worship but who may be put off the idea of listening to music sung in the Greek or Slavonic languages.

This really is a wonderful work -- I have been searching for a good copy of the Divine Liturgy in English for some time. Just to correct an earlier comment, the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom is not merely the "Greek Orthodox Liturgy." It is the most common sacrificial liturgy of the Eastern Church -- both Catholic and Orthodox. Its use spans several different national churches in addition to the Greek Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches.

I highly recommend this beautiful recording of the Divine Liturgy in Byzantine chant. It's in English too (the British kind)!