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Reflection from His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon on the Feast of the Conception of the Forerunner

The first event of the New Testament, chronologically, is the conception of the Forerunner. Only St. Luke deals with the Baptist’s conception and birth, but three of the four Gospels begin St. John’s testimony in some form or other. As the holy apostle and evangelist John the Theologian writes, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him.” The holy Forerunner sums up in his teaching and ministry the testimony of all the patriarchs, prophets, and righteous before him, pointing us toward Christ as the expected one, the fulfillment, the Messiah. Today, the Forerunner’s witness and supplications still point us toward Christ as our sole salvation. Jesus Christ alone is the author of our existence and the fulfillment of our deepest longings.

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To the clergy, monastics, and faithful of the Orthodox Church in America, beloved children in the Lord,

Christ is in our midst!

The holy services constantly urge the faithful to join music and song: “On this solemn day of our feast let us strike the spiritual harp.” “Come, O ye faithful, and let us honor in hymns the Ever-virgin Maid.” “With the whole assembly born on earth we honor the Cross, singing its praises.” “Therefore we cry to thee, O Theotokos, in song.” “Today let us, the faithful, dance for the joy, singing to the Lord with psalms and hymns.” “Let us sound the cymbals: let us shout aloud in songs.” Pages could be filled with such exhortations gleaned from the pages of the service books.

This is a reminder that Church music is our common responsibility...

Read the rest of His Beatitude's letter: https://www.oca.org/holy-synod/statements/his-beatitude-metropolitan-tikhon/church-musician-sunday-2025
2025/10/18 16:03:42
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