Byzantine Hymns

In the Footsteps of Musica Antiqua Europae Orientalis
This concert will mark a unique return to one of the most important musical traditions associated with Bydgoszcz. The concert “In the Footsteps of Musica Antiqua Europae Orientalis” draws on the legendary festival created by Andrzej Szwalbe, who for decades introduced Polish audiences to the musical heritage of Eastern Europe, Byzantium, and the cultures of the borderlands between East and West.

Authentic Byzantine hymns will be performed in Bydgoszcz Cathedral by the Cypriot ensemble Romanos Choir, which specializes in the traditional chant of the Eastern Church.

Music That Has Survived the Centuries
Byzantine music is one of the world’s oldest living musical traditions. Passed down from generation to generation for over a thousand years, it remains an integral part of the liturgy of the Orthodox and Eastern Churches to this day.

Its distinctive sound is based on subtle ornamentation, a wealth of modal scales, and the extraordinary power of the human voice. It is music devoid of instrumental accompaniment, focused on the word, prayer, and contemplation. For the contemporary listener, it offers a fascinating encounter with a different way of experiencing beauty and spirituality.

A Concert Dedicated to the Mother of God
The evening’s program is dedicated to the Most Holy Mother of God, who holds a special place in the tradition of the Eastern Christian Church. We will hear hymns associated with the most important Marian feasts of the liturgical year—the Annunciation, the Nativity, and the Dormition of the Mother of God—as well as excerpts from the Akathist and the Little Paraclete.

Among the pieces performed will be, among others, the famous kontakion “To You, the Victorious Commander” (Τη Υπερμάχω), the hymn “Theotoke Parthene” by Petros Bereketis, “Panagia Despoina,” “Axion Estin,” and compositions by outstanding figures of the Byzantine musical tradition, such as Petros Lampadarios, Theophanes of Vatopedi, and Michail Chatzathanasiou.

Romanos Choir – the voice of Cypriot tradition
The Romanos Choir ranks among the most outstanding ensembles performing Byzantine music in Cyprus. For years, the artists have dedicated themselves to researching, preserving, and promoting the musical heritage of the Eastern Church, combining scholarly knowledge with living liturgical practice.

Their interpretations allow the audience to hear the music in a form close to its historical roots, while at the same time delighting with their extraordinary artistry and spiritual depth. Each of the ensemble’s concerts becomes an experience that transcends the traditional concept of a musical performance.

The Cathedral as a Natural Setting for Byzantine Hymns
It is no coincidence that the concert will take place within the walls of the Cathedral of Saints Martin and Nicholas. This sacred space, with its acoustics and atmosphere, allows this music to resonate in the most natural way, closely resembling the conditions for which it was composed over the centuries.

In such surroundings, Byzantine chant becomes not only an artistic event but also an experience of focus, reflection, and spiritual contemplation.

A Return to the Roots
The Romanos Choir concert will be a symbolic tribute to the idea of *Musica Antiqua Europae Orientalis*—an initiative that has made Bydgoszcz one of the most important centers for dialogue among Europe’s musical cultures.

This is an invitation to the world of sounds that have accompanied the prayers of Eastern Christians for over a thousand years, and at the same time a unique opportunity to rediscover a tradition that for decades has been an integral part of our city’s musical identity.

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64. Bydgoski Festiwal Muzyczny - Śladami MAEO… Romanos Choir (Cypr)

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