News from the German Diocese

• On the Fifth Week of Great Lent, Archbishop Mark of Berlin and Germany tonsured into the rassphore one of the brethren of the Munich Monastery of St. Job of Pochaev, Brother Serge Nedelsky. Rassophore Monk Serge, combining monastic obedience with the study of theology, will depart for Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, USA, to perform the obedience of teaching Greek language. The small brotherhood of the Munich monastery, headed by Archbishop Mark, performs a great task in the publication of the periodical “Vestnik of the German Diocese” in two languages, in the manufacture of candles for the entire German Diocese and in the strict daily services of the monastic rule.
  
  
• In the city of Darmstadt, the birthplace of Royal New Martyrs Alexandra Feodorovna and Grand Duchess Elizaveta Feodorovna, the splendid Russian church, built before the revolution with funds from New Martyr Tsar Nicholas II, is in need of repair. The church of St. Mary Magdelene is valued by the heterodox of Darmstadt as a cultural treasure. For this reason, the restoration of the church has drawn the interest of the municipal authorities, which devoted a fair sum of money and has begun collecting contributions. In connection with this, the Ministry of Culture in Darmstadt has organized a series of lectures on various topics relating to Russian Church culture. On 10 April in Darmstadt, at the invitation of the Ministry, Nun Vassa from Munich read a lecture entitled “Die Wege der russischen Kirchenmusik” (“Paths of Russian Church Singing”). Heterodox Germans took a lively interest not only in Russian culture in general, but in such narrow topics as church singing as well. Many questions were put forth after the lecture, followed by a lively interchange. Besides Nun Vassa, there were no Russians in attendance.
  
  
• The IV Church Music Seminar of the German Diocese is scheduled for 14-19 July. The Seminar will be held at the Diocesan Center in the city of Koln. These seminars began in response to the acute need for qualified psalm-readers in the Diocses. The six-day program is highly intensive—it is designed to give a whirlwind preparatory course to prepare for leading the kliros. Participants in the seminar sing the entire cycle of vespers, matins and liturgy every day, prepare for services with rehearsals and studying the ustav (rule) of divine services. Special attention is paid to the content of services, so that singers do not limit themselves simply to technique. With this goal in mind, the program of the Seminar includes work with texts of services (explanations of various prayers), lectures on the history of the ustav, on singing, etc. Before each service, the Seminar participants are acquainted with the life of the saint of the day. The program also includes vocal technique and choir-directing. Those who complete the latter program are given an opportunity to lead the choir during service.