Romanos Choir in Poland. The choir from Limassol will perform in Bydgoszcz.

The Romanos Choir will perform in Poland on October 4th during the 64th Bydgoszcz Music Festival. The choir, affiliated with the Limassol Metropolitanate, will perform traditional Byzantine hymns at the Bydgoszcz Cathedral.

The concert will begin at 8:00 PM at the Cathedral of St. Martin and St. Nicholas. The event is part of the "In the Footsteps of Musica Antiqua Europae Orientalis" program, which honors Bydgoszcz's long-standing tradition of presenting the musical heritage of East and West. Tickets cost 32 PLN.

Romanos Choir in Poland at the Bydgoszcz Music Festival

Romanos Choir, also known as "Romanos o Melodos", operates at the Metropolitan City of Limassol.

The ensemble was founded in 1997. It is led by Father Nikolaos Lymbouridis, and its repertoire focuses primarily on Byzantine music and traditional Cypriot and Greek music.

Since its inception, the choir has performed at services, celebrations and concerts both on the island and abroad.

Romanos Choir is also among the ensembles associated with the Byzantine music tradition listed by the Cyprus UNESCO Commission.

Also associated with the Metropolis of Limassol is a school of Byzantine and traditional music named after Romanos Melodos.

Byzantine hymns will be played in the Bydgoszcz cathedral

The concert program was dedicated to the Mother of God.

The audience will hear hymns related to the Annunciation, Nativity, and Dormition of the Mother of God, among others. The program also includes excerpts from the Akathist and the Little Paraclete.

The planned pieces include "Theotoke Parthene", "Panagia Despoina" and "Axion Estin", as well as works by composers associated with the centuries-old tradition of Byzantine music.

The performance will be performed without instrumental accompaniment. The most important elements remain the human voice, lyrics, and distinctive melody delivery.

A tradition included on the UNESCO list

The music that Romanos Choir will present in Poland is part of a much broader cultural heritage.

In 2019, the Byzantine chant of Cyprus and Greece was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

It is a living tradition passed down to subsequent generations of singers and is still strongly linked to the liturgy and life of Orthodox communities.

Interestingly, UNESCO documentation on Cypriot tradition also features Father Nikolaos Lymbouridis, conductor of the Romanos Choir, with his students during Byzantine music classes in Limassol.

One of the oldest music festivals in Poland

The Bydgoszcz Music Festival has been held since 1963 and is one of the oldest events of its kind in Poland.

Initially known as the Polish Music Festival, it has been known under its current name since 1968, and over the decades has hosted renowned soloists, choirs, orchestras, and ensembles from Poland and other countries.

This year's Romanos Choir concert also refers to another important project of the Pomeranian Philharmonic – Musica Antiqua Europae Orientalis.

The international MAEO festival and congress took place in Bydgoszcz from 1966 to 2014. Its idea was to search for the common roots of European culture and create a space for artists and scientists from the East and West to meet.

From Limassol to Bydgoszcz

The performance will be an opportunity for the Polish audience to hear the musical tradition still alive in Limassol and other parts of the island.

Romanos Choir has been popularizing it for almost three decades, and the October concert will this time take it to one of the most important temples in Bydgoszcz.

Romanos Choir will perform on Sunday, October 4 at 8:00 PM at the Cathedral of St. Martin and St. Nicholas at 2 Farna Street in Bydgoszcz.

The ticket price is 32 PLN.

Sources: Ignacy Jan Paderewski Pomeranian Philharmonic in Bydgoszcz, Limassol Metropolitan Area, UNESCO, UNESCO Cyprus Commission