Musical Evening and Event. Monk Matthew of Vatopedi (1774-1849)

Musical Evening and Event.

Monk Matthew of Vatopedi (1774-1849) 170 years since his repose

On the occasion of the 170th anniversary of the repose of Monk Matthew of Vatopedi (1774-1849), musician, codographer, teacher of the art of chanting, the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi is organizing an event in his honor, which will take place on Tuesday, December 10, 2019 in Athens, at the Pallas Theater on Voukourestiou Street.

In the first part of the event (times: 5:00-6:30 p.m.) a Scientific Evening entitled, “Monk Matthew of Vatopedi (1774-1849), Biography – Works – Musicological Comments” will be held. The welcome address will be given by Archimandrite Ephraim, Abbot of the Holy Monastery of Vatopedi, and the musicological researchers Achilleas Chaldaiakis, Professor of Byzantine Musicology and Chant Art of the Department of Musicology of the University of Athens, Georgios Konstantinou, Dr. of the Department of Music Studies of the Ionian University, and Konstantinos Lanaras, Msc of Musicology, will speak to a musicological audience by invitation (tel. 210-6141171, hours 10:00-15:00).

In the second part of the event (starting time: 8:00 p.m.), hymns, compositions by Matthew of Vatopedi, will be sung by the “Choir of the Athonite Fathers” with choirmaster Elder Damaskinos Neoskitiotis, the “Masters of the Psalter Art” with choirmaster Achilleas Chaldaiakis and the “Greek Byzantine Choir” with choirmaster Georgios Konstantinou, and the soloists Grigorios Ntaravanoglou, Archon Maistor of the M.T.C.E., Ioannis Hasanidis, Protopsaltis of the Holy Monastery of Agia Theodora of Thessaloniki, Dimitrios Galanis, Protopsaltis and Choirmaster of the Psalter Choir “Kleida” and Georgios Konstantinou, Choirmaster of the Greek Byzantine Choir. The opening speech will be given by Archimandrite Ephraim, Abbot of the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi.

Matthew of Vatopedi is a prominent figure in the Vatopedi chant tradition. He was a chanter, calligrapher, codographer, great exponent of notation in today's writing, a wonderful composer and an unparalleled teacher of chanting art. He was initially active musically in Constantinople and then, after the end of the second decade of the 19th century, in the Vatopedi Monastery until his death. He is one of the most important musical codographers, 58 of his codices have survived, of which 28 are in the Vatopedi Monastery. His chanting activity on Mount Athos was manifold and significant.

Free admission. Distribution of admission tickets from Friday, December 6, during opening hours of the Pallas Theatre Box Office (Voukourestiou 5, tel. 210-3213100). Priority will be given.