Dr. Jessica Suchy-Pilalis, on the faculty of the 38th Annual Sacred Music Institute

L To R:  Dr. Jessica Suchy-Pilalis, Charlie Marge, Metropolitan SABA, Patriarch JOHN X

Dr. Jessica Suchy-Pilalis, Head Chanter and Choir Director of our parish, was on the faculty of the 38th Annual Sacred Music Institute of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese. She taught a two-hour session titled "Byzantine Mode-ulation" and co-presented three other sessions on mode comparison, chanting papadika (melismatic) communion hymns, and psalms of praise (syllabic settings including nine of her compositions). There was also a vocal reading of her English setting of "Blessed are they whom Thou has chosen" by Russian composer Maxim Berezovsky (c. 1745-1777). The institute culminated Sunday with a unique and special highlight: Matins and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with His Beatitude Patriarch JOHN X of Antioch and all the East, who is making a two-week visit to this county, and His Eminence Metropolitan SABA, Archbishop of North America, AOCA. Dr. Jessica and Charlie Marge, Director of the Boston Byzantine Choir, were given the honor to lead antiphonal chant choirs of women and men, respectively, for these services