Why Monophonic and not Polyphonic

The Use of Monophonic Music:

• Ecclesiastical music is monophonic. That means that there is but one single melody, and when sung together it is homophonic. At the same time, it retained a practice also found in ancient theatre and drama, in the role of the Chorus, which represents the demos (the citizens) in situ.

• This practice was retained in the West at least until the Renaissance. The Church showed preference towards and supported the use of monophonic recitation of hymns for practical, aesthetic and liturgical reasons.

• Fundamental to Orthodox Ecclesiology is that in every congregation, one among the congregation is chosen to act or mediate on behalf of many. The term used in service books is «προεστώς», which literally means, "the one who stands before".  Orthodox worship reveals this nature of mediation, of one offering before God on behalf of many, while the many become one Body, in reference to one Head, as a prefigurement of the mystery of the Church which reveals the coming recapitulation of all creation to the One Lord and Master. Consequently, this attitude is demonstrated in the manner of the formation of the choruses, and in the mode of delivery of recitation and monophonic singing in which the many act as one under the lead of the first in each chorus.

Saint John Chrysostom (PG Migne, V61, Col. 315).

“Therefore there must always be but one voice in Church, in being accordingly of a single Body. Thus, the Reader speaks alone. Even the one who holds the episcopal seat endures to be seated in silence. And the one who chants, chants alone; and if all sing together, it is comes forth as a voice from a single mouth.”

«Καὶ γὰρ μίαν ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ δεῖ φωνὴν εἶναι ἀεὶ, καθάπερ ἑνὸς ὅντος σώματος. Δια τοῦτο καὶ ὁ ἀναγινώσκων μόνος φθέγγειται· καὶ αὐτὸς ὁ τὴν ἐπισκοπὴν ἔχων ἀνέχεται σιγῇ καθήμενος· καὶ ὁ ψάλλων ψάλλει μόνος· κἄν πάντες ὑπηχῶσιν, ὡς ἐξ ἑνὸς στόματος ἡ φωνὴ φέρεται.»