Chicago Deanery Male Choir Sings Paraklesis to Begin Dormition Fast

CHICAGO, IL [DOM] – On Sunday, August 2, the first Sunday of the Dormition Fast, the Paraklesis was served at the Diocesan Cathedral, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Chicago, IL. The service was attended by His Eminence Archbishop Daniel of Chicago and the Diocese of the Midwest.

The service to the Mother of God was organized and sung by the Chicago Deanery Male Choir under the direction of Reader Philip Sokolov, and served by Priest Alexander Koranda, Cathedral Dean.

The particular arrangement that the choir used for the service was by the late Diocesan Hierarch, Archbishop Job (Osacky), of blessed memory. Archbishop Job arranged several services in the Carpatho Russian Chant style, and put together a choir of local singers that he would rehearse and direct during the services. At that time, the Archbishop had a recording made of the service and proceeds from the recording went to the missions of the diocese.

During the service, prayers were said for the Diocesan clergy, monastics, and faithful.

At the conclusion of the service, Archbishop Daniel offered a reflection on the importance of the service during the Dormition Fast, and also the work of his predecessor, Archbishop Job.