Rarely heard hymns for the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (June 29) are the focus in this episode of “Icons in Sound.” Musical settings, ranging from early Russian znamenny chants to works by Rimsky-Korsakov and Fr. Sergei Glagolev, are sung by Archangel Voices, Cappella Romana, and the Russian Patriarchate Choir. Click below to listen to the program. For more information about the program and the Feast, click the 'Read More' below.

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The program opens with the Troparion for SS Peter and Paul, an arrangement of Carpatho-Rusyn Chant, sung by the women of Archangel Voices on their CD “With the Voice of the Archangel” (I-60). This is followed by two anonymous settings of Russian znamenny chant—the Troparion and Kontakion of the feast, sung in Church Slavonic by the Russian Patriarchate Choir under the direction of Anatoly Grindenko, and an English version of the Kontakion sung to a Russian “Greek” Chant melody by Archangel Voices.

The Troparion:

O first-enthroned of the Apostles, teachers of the universe, entreat the Master of All to grant peace to the world and to our souls great mercy!

The Kontakion:

O Lord, You have taken up to Your eternal rest and to the enjoyment of Your blessings the two preachers of truth and leaders of the Apostles; for You accepted their labors as more precious than any sacrifice, O only Searcher of the hearts of men.

The esteem in which the Church holds the two chief Apostles Peter and Paul is made clear in the stichera of the feast. Since recordings of musical settings are not available, they are read poetically on this the program simply to reveal the beauty and the depth of teaching found in the liturgical texts sung in church. Two of the stichera from the Praises are as follows:

When the Savior asked the twelve Apostles,
“Who do men say that I am?”
Peter, the leader of the disciples,
received heavenly grace,
and cried out in a clear voice:
“You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”
He is therefore worthy of our highest praise,
for he was given this revelation from the Father in heaven.
Justly has he won the power of binding and loosing sins.

Paul, you were called not by man, but by God.
Mist and darkness covered your bodily eyes
when the misery of unbelief was revealed to you.
Heavenly light flashed before the eyes of your heart,
showing you the beauty of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
You came to know Him, who brings forth light from darkenss.
Plead with Him to enlighten and save our souls.

The Exaposteilarion or Hymn of Light for SS Peter and Paul is heard in two arrangements of a Russian chant melody—the first, patterned on an arrangement by Johann von Gardner, while the second is by American composer Alexander Ruggieri. Both are sung by Archangel Voices on the CD “With the Voice of the Archangel.”

I sing of the leaders of the Apostles, Peter and Paul:
they are lights of the universe and heralds of the faith.
Trumpets sounding with truth and preachers of belief,
pillars of the Church, and destroyers of error.

The Liturgy prokeimenon for the feast of SS Peter and Paul and other feasts of the Holy Apostles: “Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the universe”—taken from Psalm 18 is also sung by Archangel Voices.

The same psalm verse serves as the Communion Hymn or Koinonikon at the Divine Liturgy. At various times in the history of Orthodox Church singing, the Koinonikon was either set to an elaborate melody or polyphonic composition, followed by an equally elaborate “Alleluia,” or the psalm verse was sung as a relatively short refrain to other verses of the psalm. Three examples illustrate both of these approaches:

1) a Russian polyphonic znamenny chant, dating from around the year1600 or even earlier;
2) a polyphonic chant arrangement by Russian composer Nikolai RimskyKorsakov (18441908), dating from the late 19th century; and
3) the psalm verse as a refrain, in a setting by Father Sergei Glagolev (b. 1928).

The latter is sung by Cappella Romana (Portland, Oregon) on their CD entitled “Lay Aside All Earthly Cares” (I-63), which is devoted entirely to the works of Fr. Sergei Glagolev.

 Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the universe. Alleluia.

The Holy Apostles Peter and Paul were not only regarded as the patron saints of entire ancient patriarchates, such as the Church of Antioch, and the Church of Rome, but they also inspired a number of popular devotional hymns and carols, which were sung by wandering pilgrims and told the story of the saints in a way that even children and simple people could understand.

The following “spiritual verse,” dating from sometime before 1650, is sung by the Sirin Ensemble for early Russian sacred music, under the direction of Andrei Kotov.

Most brilliant princes of the Church councils,
principal chieftains of the heavenly gifts,
pride of the universe!
With a  small chant we shall now praise,
with heart and mouth,
Peter and Paul, the teachers of all,
the destroyers of the wiles of the world,
the two great torches of the world,
the keybearers of the Kingdom of the upper world,
the principal Apostles.
Peter, the foundation of faith in Christ,
takes his name from the following:
“As whom do you recognize me?
As one of the prophets?” said Christ.
Peter called him the Son of God.
“And you are he, O Christ.”
“And for this name I shall found the Church upon this rock.
The gates of hell shall not overcome my Church,
which shall be invincible and holy upon this, its foundation.”
Paul was formerly  the persecutor of the Churches of Christ,
Yet soon he become their zealous defender.
He was illumined by a miraculous light from heaven
and used as a chosen vessel.
He was baptized by Ananias,
he was sanctified and illumined;
he preached Christ before men,
before lords and gentiles,
the marvelous teacher of the universe.

The final selection on this program is a setting of “Many years,” sung to a melody of the St. Sophia of Novgorod Cathedral by the Monks of Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Monastery (Sergiev Posad, Russia). To all those who are named Peter and Paul. Many years! Mnogaya leta! Chroni polla!