In the city of Constantinople, there was once a young monk named Romanus who acted as the Church Sacristan for perhaps the greatest Christian Church ever built, Hagia Sophia. Despite spending time in what St. Vladimir’s emissaries called “heaven on earth”, the young monk would often leave the Church and spend his nights alone in the field, where he would be deep in prayer and growing in his love for our Lord.
Despite his many talents and knowledge of the services, there was one thing that the monk Romanus was not skilled at…singing. Once, on Christmas eve, he was assigned to chant for the service, but he read so poorly that the clergy made another reader come to take his place. It became somewhat of a joke, so much so that the others ridiculed Romanus, which devastated him even more than his inability to chant in the Church. Dejected, he went to the one place where he found comfort…in the arms of prayer.
Although young Romanus didn’t realize it at the time, he was about to receive a Christmas gift that not only would change his entire life…but effect even our lives as Orthodox Christians now centuries later. While in deep and tear-filled prayer, Romanus received a visitation from the Mother of God as he was praying before her holy icon. Just like the prophets of old, she gave him a scroll and commanded him to eat it. The Theotokos gave her blessing and disappeared from the monk’s presence.
Later that evening at the all-night Vigil, Romanus was overcome by the Holy Spirit, and at a certain point of the service, in a voice that sounded as if the angels of heaven themselves had entered the temple, the Church heard for the first time the Kontakion that we still sing today on Christmas come from his lips:
“Today, the Virgin gives birth to the transcendent one, and the earth offers a cave to the unapproachable one! Angels with shepherds glorify Him! The wise men journey with the star! Since for our sake the pre-eternal God was born as a Little Child!”
To this day, we call hymns sung for Feasts or the Saints Kontakia, which is the Greek name for the small pole on which a scroll is wrapped around. This is in honor of the vision of the Theotokos coming down to St. Romanus, after which he went on to compose a thousand hymns, a few of which are still used to this day by Christians to glorify God.
This weekend, in honor of the Feast of St. Romanus the melodist, we offer praise and thanksgiving for one of the most important ministries of the Church. We give thanks to the all-mighty God for those men and women who dedicate their time and (like St. Romanus) their God given talent to the singing of the hymns that penetrate our very souls. Today, we honor the Choir of Angels that our parish in particular is so blessed to have with us.
In a letter from Metropolitan Tikhon that we received this week, His Beatitude reflects on just how important song is, not just in our worship services, but to the entire universe. He said:
“Even before the first Father Adam was formed, when the physical world was first coming into being, the scriptures speak of music: “The Morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy…Music is, in some mysterious way, a part of creation and a part of redemption, such that even heaven is filled with song…and this song, though it begins in time, extends beyond time, and is taken up by the angels and saints forever.”
Elsewhere in the writings of the Church Fathers, particularly St. Augustine, it is said that when “you sing in the Church, you pray twice.” These references and so many more are a testament to the importance of the biblical tradition of sacred song, that has bridged the gap between those ancient songs sung by the prophets and patriarchs, to the eternal songs sung by the angels and the saints. [1]
All of that being said, I want to re-iterate something extremely important, most especially those who are just joining the Church and to all of our catechumens. The Church is not a Grace dispensary where our only role is to consume these gifts that we receive at every service. It is rather a Holy Place in which we receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit, and are called to plant it, cultivate it, grow it, and spread it to the rest of the world. All of us, from the oldest parishioner down to the child that is still in the womb have an important role to play, most especially in the ministry of worship.
For those that are in the choir, I encourage you all to take this incredible ministry and to grow it. Encourage others to join. Practice the sacred hymns here at Church and at home. It is a tremendous blessing and a position of leadership to be a part of the choir, and it is the responsibility of each of you to grow and mature not only individually, but together as you continue to praise the Lord with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
For those who have the ability to sing but do not find yourself currently in the choir, I encourage you today to take on the ministry of joining the angelic voices who lead us in prayer. If you can read music, if you can teach voice, if God has graced you with any vocal talent whatsoever, please offer that gift back to God! Encourage your children to sing, albeit a little quieter than the choir!
For those that might be like St. Romanus before his visitation from the Theotokos, who cannot carry a tune or have a problem staying on pitch, I ask that you humble yourself. Singing might not be a ministry that God has called you to, but there are so many other ways with which we can offer music to our Lord. A wonderful example of this is that we are always in need of new members to learn how to ring the bells to call all of us to worship!
May our Lord be well pleased with our sacrifice of praise, and rejoice over us, and quiet us with his love, and sing over us in his joy!
[1] Letter for His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, Oct 2, 2022