Amy and Richard visit with Patrick Haddad of St. Nicholas Antiochian Cathedral in Los Angeles and George Zain of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Brooklyn, founding members of the Byzantine choir The Sons of Antioch. Patrick and George talk about the choir’s origins and mission as an ensemble, the group’s liturgical and concert-related activities, their own education as cantors, and the guiding collaborative spirit of The Sons of Antioch. The Sons of Antioch website: www.sonsofantioch.us Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SonsofAntioch A Divine Presence (December 2024 concert): https://www.patreon.com/posts/divine-presence-119405469?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_fan&utm_content=web_share Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SonsOfAntioch Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonsofantioch/

Amy and Richard talk to Christian Farradj, the host of Ancient Faith’s new Byzantine chant series on Ancient Faith Kids. Christian shares about his journey making the leap from altar to analogion in his youth, and the opportunities and challenges of learning Byzantine music in a time when there are more resources and interest than ever before. As a special bonus, Christian’s heretofore unknown family connection with one of the hosts is also revealed! A Joyful Noise on Ancient Faith Kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DnLPPx1wZo&t=321s

Amy and Richard talk to Christina Stravros Kidonakis, the Protopsaltria at All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in Joliet, Illinois. Christina was a pioneer for the Byzantine Chant Certificate Program at Hellenic College Holy Cross School of Theology and is the coordinator of the Synaxis of Orthodox Women Byzantine Cantors, an annual educational event in Chicago for women who are active in Byzantine music. You can find out more about the Synaxis of Orthodox Women Byzantine Cantors on the St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church website.

Amy and Richard welcome back John Michael Boyer to talk about his new textbook for Byzantine music aimed specifically at English language readers. They have a conversation about the book's beginnings, John's nearly two decades long writing process, what it offers cantors, and how the chant landscape has changed in North America since he first had the idea for the book. Show notes: John Michael Boyer, Saint John Koukouzelis Institute of Liturgical Arts, koukouzelis.net Byzantine Chant: The Received Tradition - A Lesson Book, ByzChantLessonBook.com Book launch at Maliotis Cultural Center, https://maliotis.hchc.edu/index.php/event/byzantine-chant-the-received-tradition-with-john-michael-boyer/ Cappella Romana Publishing, cappellaromana.org Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, New Orleans, LA, holytrinitycathedral.org

Demetrios Katsiklis is the newly-appointed Master Chanter of the newly-reopened St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at Ground Zero. In this episode he talks to Amy and Richard about his upbringing in Greece, his chanting education, the challenges and opportunities of daily worship at one of the most visible Orthodox churches in the United States, and the intentionality of establishing St. Nicholas as a bilingual (Greek/English) worshipping community.