The coronation of King Charles III will include Greek Orthodox chanting as a homage to the king’s late father, Prince Philip, who was born in Corfu and was a member of the former Greek royal family.
The hymns will be chanted by the Byzantine Chant Ensemble led by Dr Alexander Lingas, who formed the ensemble especially for the coronation, said a recent announcement by Buckingham Palace.
Alexandros Lingas said he was honoured, noting that “integrating Greek psalmody into the equally ancient rites of the Coronation Service is a profound and beautiful demonstration of the deep appreciation for Orthodox Christianity long shown by both His Majesty and the late Duke of Edinburgh.”
The coronation is set to take place on May 6, about eight months after the death of King Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Alexander Lingas, Music Director and founder of Cappella Romana, is a Professor Emeritus of Music at City, University of London, and a Research Fellow of the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies (Cambridge, UK).
His present work embraces not only historical study but also ethnography and performance. In 2018 His All-Holiness, Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch, bestowed on him the title of Archon Mousikodidáskalos.
He is the Spring 2023 Artist in Residence at the Institute of Sacred Arts at St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Yonkers, New York.
He is also a member of the Iasi Byzantine Music Festival Scientific Committee.
Photography source: greekreporter.com
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