Metropolitan Hilarion's Passion According to St. Matthew to be performed in Constantinople

Concert of Russian spiritual music is to take place in ancient Agia Eirini museum church on March 26. Oratorio for soloists, choir and orchestra The Passion According to St. Matthew by Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk will be performed at the concert. "Idea of holding such a concert was discussed at Patriarch Kirill's meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew during his visit to the Constantinople Church on July 4-5, 2009. The Primate and other prominent hierarchs of the Constantinople Patriarchate backed it up," a source in the Synodal Department for External Church Relations told Interfax-Religion correspondent.

Patriarch Bartholomew, who blessed the concert, is expected to visit the performance.

Metropolitan Hilarion's monumental oratorio The Passion According to St. Matthew was first performed in the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory on March 27, 2007. Then this composition was performed in Italy, Australia, Canada, Ukraine and Russian regions and was always welcomed with sincere interest of the audience, the interview of the agency said.

On March 25, 2010, it will be held at the Hall of Church Councils of the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior. The Passion is based on the Gospel of Matthew narrating about the last days of Jesus Christ.

Source: Interfax religion