Twin Cities Byzantine Choir

Twin Cities Byzantine Choir Pan-Orthodox Byzantine Choir in Minnesota that aims to portray the beauty of Orthodox Christian worship.

We’re so excited to share Crowns of Precious Stones — a fully recorded YouTube album of Byzantine chant for the Orthodox...
04/27/2026

We’re so excited to share Crowns of Precious Stones — a fully recorded YouTube album of Byzantine chant for the Orthodox Sacrament of Marriage, along with a complete set of downloadable music scores for the entire service.

To God be the Glory!

Our hope is that it serves the Church and becomes a practical, ready-to-use resource for chanters and parishes—both as a faithful recording of the wedding service and as a complete set of music you can bring right to the chant stand. If you are going to a wedding or getting married, we hope it helps you become more intimately familiar with the richness of this sacrament.

The PDFs (linked in bio) include full music booklets with:
• Byzantine & Western notation
• Elizabethan & modern English texts
• Prepared for use across Orthodox jurisdictions

📥 Download the full scores (link in bio)

🎧 Recorded at St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church (Jan 2026) by chanters from six Minnesota parishes.

🎼 Featuring hymns from the wedding service, including the Dance of Isaiah, It Is Truly Right, and more. The music is composed from a variety of sources, none of which are original compositions by our choir.
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We’re grateful to share this—hope it can be a blessing and a resource for many.

Join us TONIGHT for Vespers at St. Mary's Greek Orthodox Church in Minneapolis! Our Choir will be chanting Vespers begin...
04/25/2026

Join us TONIGHT for Vespers at St. Mary's Greek Orthodox Church in Minneapolis! Our Choir will be chanting Vespers beginning at 5:00pm. We'd love to pray together!

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04/22/2026

Theotokion in the First Mode, chanted by the Left Choir.

A Theotokion is a hymn dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. It not only honors her, but also teaches about Christ — especially that He is both fully God and fully man, born and incarnate through her. That’s why some of these hymns are called “Dogmatic Theotokia,” because they express core beliefs of the faith.

Text of the 1st Mode Theotokion (Fr. Seraphim Dedes):

"When Gabriel had said to you, “Rejoice!” blessed Virgin, * and you had voiced your assent, the Lord of all became incarnate * in you, who became the holy Ark, * as righteous King David said of old. * You carried your Creator, and thus your womb was wider than the heavens. * Glory to Him who dwelt inside of you! * Glory to Him who came forth from You! * Glory to Him who through your childbirth has set us free!"




03/23/2026

"Lord, I have cried to You; hear me. Hear me, O Lord. Lord, I have cried to You; hear me. Give heed to the voice of my supplication when I cry to You. Hear me, O Lord." The moving text of Psalm 140 are chanted in Orthodox Churches during the Vespers service.

This clip was chanted.in Plagal 4th Mode at the Pan Orthodox Vespers at St. Mary's Greek Orthodox Church (Minneapolis) on March 8th, 2026. This setting was composed by Fr. Seraphim Dedes.

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03/14/2026

Last night, a few members of our choir had the privilege of sharing Byzantine sacred music at St. Agnes Catholic Church as part of their Friday Lenten Series.

Fr. Tim Sas spoke to the parish about the history of sacred music and the development of liturgical music traditions in the Christian Church, introducing the experience of the Eastern Church.

We were grateful for the opportunity to chant several Lenten hymns, pausing after each one to reflect on its theology and the role these hymns play in the life of the Church.

Here’s a clip of the Exaposteilarion of the Bridegroom Matins Services of Holy Week. This was composed by His Grace Bishop BASIL Essey of the Antiochian Archdiocese.




03/10/2026

"As we start upon the third week of the Fast, O ye faithful, let us glorify the Holy Trinity, and joyfully pass through the time that still remains. Causing passions of the flesh to wither from our souls, let us gather divine flowers, weaving garlands for the queen of days, that with crowns upon our heads we may sing in praise of Christ the Victor."

This past Sunsay, our choir had the joy of chanting Pan Orthodox Vespers alongside the Pan Orthodox MEOCCA Choir. This hymn was composed by Samuel Herron and is in Plagal 4th Mode.

Good strength to in the fast!

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01/30/2026

Sneak peek of "Crowns of Precious Stones," our winter project. This setting of Alleluia in Plagal 4th Mode was composed by Fr. Seraphim Dedes.

Our choir met last night for our final recording session. It's been a blessing to learn, rehearse, and record the beautiful music of the Orthodox Wedding Service.




01/23/2026

Last night, our choir braved the –20° cold for the first of two recording sessions for our upcoming album, "Crowns of the Precious Stones." This album will feature the complete Wedding Service in English Byzantine Chant, as it is sung here in the Twin Cities.

We can’t wait to share it with you—but until then, here’s a small glimpse from last night’s recording session:

"O Holy Martyrs, who have contested well and have been crowned: intercede with the Lord that He may have mercy on our souls.”

Chanted in Grave Mode, as composed by Papa Ephraim of St. Anthony’s Monastery in Arizona.




01/18/2026

Blessed feast of Saints Athanasius and Cyril!

"These wise teachers of truth and defenders of Christ’s Church share a joint Feast in recognition of their dogmatic writings which affirm the truth of the Orthodox Faith, correctly interpret the Holy Scripture, and censure the delusions of the heretics."

Here's a clip of our Choir Chanting their Apolytikion at one of our rehearsals. The music was composed by Papa Ephraim of St. Anthony's Monastery in Arizona.

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12/24/2025

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

Here is a clip of a few of our choir members chanting the Royal Hours of the Nativity of Christ.

The hymn speaks of the perspective of Joseph the Betrothed and the faith he had in the Lord:

"Joseph, tell us, how is it that you bring to Bethlehem the Maiden you received from the Temple, now great with child? And he replies, “I have studied the prophetic books, after receiving a revelation from an Angel; and I am convinced that Mary shall give birth to God, in ways past understanding. Magi will come from the East, with precious gifts, to adore Him.” O Lord who took flesh for our sake, glory to You!"

Glory to God for the richness of Orthodox Hymnogoraphy!




12/09/2025

A clip from today's Divine Liturgy for the feast of the Conception of the Theotokos.

This arrangement of "One is Holy" is in Plagal 4th Mode and is composed by Samuel Herron. It can be found in the book "The Divine Liturgy by Samuel Herron."

Blessed feast day to all who have the name Anna!

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Happy Thanksgiving from the Twin Cities Byzantine Choir family. We are thankful for the ability to worship our Lord in s...
11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from the Twin Cities Byzantine Choir family. We are thankful for the ability to worship our Lord in song! Have a blessed day!




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