Prologue in Sermons: November 16

For Lovers of Church Singing

November 16

(From the Words of our Holy Father Pambo to his Disciple)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

There are many Christians who love church singing and participate in it. Not to mention that church singing is generally a pleasant activity for singers, it is also beneficial for them. The Church of God specifically mentions them in one of its petitions to the Lord, thereby asking for His special favor.

But it's a great pity, brethren, that some singers sin only when they sing. They usually try to outshout others singing with them, thereby disrupting the overall harmony of the singing and tempting the congregation, arousing either anger or mockery. To admonish such singers, I believe it would be useful to offer the commentary of one of the Holy Fathers on inappropriate singing, and at the same time his lesson on what true singing should be.

Once, for a purpose, Abba Pambo sent one of his disciples to the city of Alexandria. The monk stayed there for fifteen days, and during that time he frequently attended the Church of Saint Mark. Since he greatly enjoyed the service there, he left the city with regret and returned home saddened. Pambo noticed his sorrow and asked with sympathy, "Has some misfortune befallen you?" The monk replied, "We spend our days in neglect, Father! I have seen the ecclesiastical rites and heard the singing in Alexandria, and I was in great sorrow: why do we not sing in the same way?" The Elder then said to him, "Woe to us, my child! What joy can there be when one stands in church and raises their voice like oxen? When we stand before God, it is necessary to stand with devotion, not to strive for ornate singing, not to elevate the voice senselessly, not to shake our hands, and not to allow improper bodily movements; we must implore God with much fear and trembling and with tears, and in devotion and sighs, bringing our prayers to God in a virtuous, quiet, and humble voice."

Therefore, brethren, if you have the zeal to serve God through singing, then sing with much fear and trembling, with tears, with tenderness, sighing, with good manners and, finally, with a quiet and humble voice. Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.