The founder of the Tronos Byzantine Choir of the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, Archdeacon Mihail Bucă, proposed a Decalogue for Chanters (Psaltes) in the context of the Commemorative Year of hymnographers and church chanters.

We reproduce below the set of 10 rules for church chanters proposed by the Protopsaltis of the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest at the invitation of Basilica.ro.

A Decalogue for Chanters

1. Praise the Lord your God with hymns and praises.
2. Keep purity and integrity in your heart and chanting.
3. Don’t hurt or offend anyone with words or hymns.
4. Be humble in your chanting ministry.
5. Thank the Mother of God and all the holy melodists.
6. Increase your musical talent, through which you bring praise to God.
7. Guard your soul and mind against cunning praise.
8. Honour the great composers by chanting and your master by proper behaviour.
9. Be eager to preserve the Byzantine musical tradition.
10. Sing to God with your heart because “he who sings prays twice” (“Qui cantat bis orat” – St Augustine).

Photo: Basilica.ro Files / Raluca Ene

Follow us on Twitter: @BasilicaNews