Yermolai Kamezhenkov. A Portrait of a Young Lady (E. N. Likhachyova). 1790

A Portrait of a Young Lady (Yermolai Kamezhenkov, 1790)

Icon of St Noe the Forefather. Russian. Rybinsk, late 17th to early 18th century.

St Noe the Forefather (Russian, Rybinsk, late 17th to early 18th century)

It rained for 40 days and 40 nights… remember?

Nebo i Zemlya. Heaven and Earth. Novokuznetsk Choir

An old Russian kolyadka is matched with photos of churches from all over Great Russia. It is sung by the Novokuznetsk Spiritual Seminary Choir from Siberia.

Nova Radist Stala. Russian kolyadka

Another one of our festive Russian kolyadki sung by the Novokuznetsk Spiritual Seminary Choir from Siberia. It is accompanied by icons of Christ.

Noch Tikha. Quiet Night. Russian kolyadka

One of our Russian kolyadki is matched with contemporary photos of Orthodox Chrisitians at prayer and feasting. My intent was to “enflesh” Orthodox life, both our worship and our celebrations. The final image is “The Nativity of Christ” by the contemporary Russian artist Pavel Popov. The first image is the cathedral at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville NY during the winter Christmas season.(more)

Nebo i Zemlya. Heaven and Earth. Russian kolyadka

This is one of the kolyadki (carols) for Christmas. The St Nicholas Cathedral Children’s Choir in Mozhaisk sings it accompanied by Orthodox icons of the Birth of Christ. The final image is the famous version painted by St Andrei Rublyov.

To forestall spam by nationalist extremists, the kolyadki migrated from Little Russia all over the Empire, and they are now a precious heritage of all Orthodox Russians. In any case, this choir is Russian, and it was recorded in Russia. Isn’t it sad that I must include such a caveat for such a beautiful song about a meaningful feast?

Pie Jesu. Mozart. Sarah Brightman (with Russian icons)

This is another “classic chestnut”. Most of the iconography is by the contemporary Russian iconographer Svetlana Rzhanitsyna, but, it is bookended by Yedinorodny Syne i Slove Bozhii (O Only Begotten Son and Word of God”) by Viktor Vasnetsov and St Andrei Rublyov’s famous icon of Christ the Saviour.

The Nightingales of Siberia. O Only Begotten Son

The Nightingales of Siberia are a lovely female chorus from Novosibirsk in Siberia. In this video, they sing Bortiansky’s setting of Yedinorodny Syne i Slove Bozhii (O Only Begotten Son and Word of God).

In Dulce Jubilo. A Christmas Season Offering

Scenes of the Christmas season are combined with the Thomanenchor Leipzig singing a traditional German Christmas song, In Dulce Jubilo. The Thomanenchor is from the Thomaskirche in Saxony (in eastern Germany, in the old DDR), where Johann Sebastian Bach was kappelmeister.

My good wishes to all of you in this most blessed season. Now, if I can just find enough time for preparations…

O Praise the Lord of Heaven! William Billings

Apparently, there is an audience for my fusion videos of 18th century American hymnography and Russian religious art. So, here we pair an anthem by Billings with 19th century Russian religious art. This is not iconography per se, but many of these works are very familiar to a Russian audience. God willing, they shall reach Americans as well.

The anthem is sung by His Majesty’s Clerkes under the direction of Paul Hillier. I dedicate this video to my friend Mary-Leah. Mnogaya lyeta! May God grant thee many years!