A Harmony of Faith and Tradition
The St. Mary’s Malankara Orthodox Church Choir in Calgary serves as the liturgical heartbeat of our parish. Dedicated to enhancing the worship experience, the choir bridges the gap between ancient tradition and our contemporary Canadian context through a thoughtful, dual-language approach to ministry.
Our Structure:
Two Teams, One Voice
To cater to our diverse congregation and ensure the beauty of the liturgy is accessible to all generations, the choir operates in two specialized streams:
* The English Choir:
Leads the liturgical singing on the 3rd and 5th Saturdays of each month. This team focuses on providing a clear and prayerful English service that resonates with our youth and the wider community.
* The Malayalam Choir:
Leads the service during the remaining weeks of the month, preserving the rich, traditional heritage of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
While these teams rotate weekly duties, the choir remains a single, unified body of 10+ dedicated regular members. For significant milestones—such as parish conventions, ecumenical gatherings, and special feast days—the entire choir joins forces to create a powerful, collective witness of praise.
Liturgical Excellence & The Ekkara
The choir is committed to the Beth Gazo, the traditional treasury of chants. We strive to follow the Ekkara (The 8 Tones) whenever possible, ensuring that the melodic structure of the service aligns with the liturgical calendar.
Our Philosophy of Worship:
“The choir’s role is not to perform, but to lead. We sing with the firm belief that the entire parish should be one voice. Our goal is to guide the congregation so that every member can participate fully in the Holy Qurbana.”
Dedication and Preparation
Beyond the standard liturgy, the choir is constantly evolving.
Targeted Practice:
Special hymns and seasonal songs for each Saturday are practiced diligently as needed.
Adaptability: Whether preparing for a solemn Lenten convention or a joyful ecumenical celebration with other churches in Calgary, the choir maintains a rigorous standard of preparation.
The St. Mary’s Orthodox Church Choir continues to grow, inviting the faithful to “sing praises with understanding” and lifting the hearts of the Calgary community toward the divine.