“Thou art God of peace...”

The Irmos, "God, thou art the God of peace", from the Fifth Ode of the Christmas Canon, composed by Saint Kosmas of Crete the Hymnographer, exalts God, who sent His Word. At that time, He was sent then as the "Angel of Great Counsel," leading ancient Israel out of the darkness of idolatry. Now, however, through His incarnate presence, He awakens the "New Israel" from the slumber of night and guides it to the light of the knowledge of God, so that it may worship God Himself with boldness, without fear of falling back into idolatry.  

This redemptive truth, as expressed in Orthodox theology and hymnography, forms the foundation of our spiritual tradition, which flourished in the "New Jerusalem", Constantinople, finding its fullest musical expression in the Ecumenical Patriarchate. 

As teachers of the School of Byzantine Ecclesiastical Music, we feel a sacred duty to preserve and pass on this rich melodic treasure, cultivating it as a precious talent entrusted to us, so that it remains vibrant and flourishing for current and future generations. 

School of Byzantine Ecclesiastical Music