Liturgical Music

Music has always held a central place in the worship of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The liturgical tradition uses a system of melodies (tones) and hymns that give expression to the feasts, seasons, and texts of the liturgy.

The hymns are drawn from the Syriac tradition and from the compositions of the Fathers and saints. They are sung by the choir and the faithful, often in response to the priest's prayers and readings. The eight tones of the liturgical calendar provide a structure for the music, and special melodies are used for Great Lent, Holy Week, and the feasts.

Liturgical music is not merely decorative; it carries the theology and piety of the Church and helps the faithful to pray and to enter into the mystery of worship. Training in the traditional melodies and hymns is part of the formation of clergy and choir members, so that the heritage of the Church may be preserved and handed on.