Benedict Sheehan Premieres Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom

On May 26, Benedict Sheehan’s setting of the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom received its World Premiere Performance at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Pro-Cathedral in Wilkes-Barre.  The composition is among the first of its kind; a complete musical setting of the text of the Liturgy in English. Mr. Sheehan is assistant professor and director of music at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary [STOTS].

When composing the setting, Mr. Sheehan sought to bring together such varied influences as Byzantine Chant, Georgian Chant, Gregorian Chant, American Sacred Harp, and English Choral Music, while remaining grounded in the Russian Choral Tradition, in order to express the cultural diversity of Orthodoxy in America.  All of these influences coalesced to form a coherent and beautiful whole that succeeded brilliantly in elevating the minds and hearts of all those present to the contemplation of the very Source of Beauty – God Himself.

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