The Eastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians (EFGOCM) presents its 32nd annual “Spirit of Lent” choral concert on Friday, April 11, 2025, at 7:30 pm, at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 1200 Klockner Road, Hamilton, NJ. Suggested donation is $10; students/children are free. The concert will be followed by a reception with Lenten refreshments. This 50-voice choir is comprised of members from New Jersey’s Greek Orthodox Churches, and is supported by the Metropolis of New Jersey. Join us for this uplifting musical event!
Conducted by Ryan J. Kiel, the program is a beautiful reprise of 23 ancient and modern compositions for the Lenten season. Sung in English and Greek, hymns such as “Fos Ilaron” (“O Gladsome Light”) from Great Vespers; “Tin achranton ikona sou” (Before Your Most Pure Image) and “Soson Kyrie” (Save, O Lord) – from the services of Great Lent – encourages congregational participation. “Theos Kyrios” (God is the Lord) – from the Palm Sunday Service whose text is what the crowds shouted as Christ entered the city on a donkey; “Tin Oreotita” (Awed by the beauty) – from the Friday Night Cheretismi service during Great Lent to magnify the Theotokos; “Allelulia” & “Idhou o Nimfios Erchete” (Behold the Bridegroom Cometh) – from the Bridegroom Services of Holy Week; and “Troparion of Kassiane” – for Holy Tuesday by Nicholas Roubanis. Roubanis was a composer, arranger, and choral director who directed Greek Orthodox Choirs across New York and New Jersey in the 1900s.
“The beautiful tradition of Greek Orthodox choral music that developed out of the 20th century in the United States takes Byzantine melodies and sets them to 3-4 voice parts,” Kiel said. “Greek Orthodox Choral Musicians across Northern New Jersey flock to sing in this exciting concert showcasing music from Lent, Holy Week, and more!”
Established in 1977, the Eastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians is comprised of church musicians – choir members, psaltai and church school music educators from the parishes of the Metropolis of New Jersey (New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia). For more than 45 years, the EFGOCM has convened annually to learn new musical settings of the Divine Liturgy, award scholarships, conduct workshops on vocal technique, encourage youth participation, strengthen communication between church musicians and the leadership of the Church, and improve the spiritual and musical background of our church musicians. Two major concerts are presented in New Jersey each year, “The Spirit of Lent” during the Lenten season, and the annual Christmas concert in December. In September, the choir sings during the Holy Cross Celebration in Asbury Park, NJ.
