On November 18-21, 2024, the United Choir of Svyato-Trinity Sergius Lavra and Moscow Theological Academy under the direction of Hieromonk Nestor (Volkov) visited India for concerts organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, FGBUK «Roskonzert», Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church within the framework of the project «Russian Concert Programs in India». From the side of the Russian Orthodox Church the Secretary for Inter-Christian Relations Hieromonk Stephen (Igumnov) participated in the trip.
On November 19, the choir members visited the Kottayam Seminary, where they attended a service in the academic church and had fellowship with the faculty and students. On the same day, the choir performed at the «Mammen Mappilai» Concert Hall in Kottayam (Kerala), where they had a large audience. The concert was attended by the Primate of the Malankara Church, His Holiness Catholicos Basil Mar Thomas Matthias III, who addressed the choir and the audience with welcoming remarks. Hierarchs and clerics of Indian Churches were also present in the audience. On behalf of the delegation from Russia, Hieromonk Stephan (Igumnov) welcomed the audience.
On November 20, the choir of the Russian Orthodox Church performed at the Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul in Parumala (Kerala) — one of the most important cathedrals of the Malankara Church, where the relics of St. Gregory of Parumala, a saint revered by Indian Christians, reside. Hundreds of parishioners and pilgrims came to listen to the choir from Russia. The program of performances included church chants, such as the troparion of the feast of the Holy Trinity and the Akathist kondak to St. Sergius of Radonezh. In addition to spiritual music were performed such songs as «Moscow Region Evenings» and «Evening on the Raid» by V. Solovyov-Sedogo, «Russia is called holy» «The Twelve Robbers» and others.
On the same day, the members of the choir visited the Gorno-Favor Monastery in Pathanapuram, located near the place where the outstanding Russian missionary of the XX century Archimandrite Andronik (Elpidinsky) once lived. The guests were welcomed by Metropolitan Joseph Mar Dionysius of Kollam and the brethren of the monastery.
On November 21, His Holiness Catholicos Basil Mar Thomas Matthew III gave a reception in honor of the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, during which he thanked the choir for the opportunity to get in touch with Russian spiritual music.
EVCS Communication Service/Patriarchy.ru
