Sunday Service at Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral

I decided to attend 10:00 Service at this particular church because I found a reference to its fine choir on the internet. After breakfast and taking taking the metro (transferring lines once), I realized, upon arriving at Cheryshevskaya Metro station, that I hadn't mapped out the walk from the metro to the church. Not smart. Luckily there was a map (complete with a convenient "you are here" dot) so I found my way with a few moments to spare.

This particular church is nothing special on the outside. Once inside, there are icons framed in gold absolutely everywhere you look. For those who have never been to an Orthodox Service, everything is sung from beginning to end. The clergy are fine singers themselves. In fact, there were several spots in the Service where the ten (or so) clergy sang beautifully in harmony. Most of the Service involves some kind of call/response structure, usually with the deacon and the choir.

This choir had about 24 voices, and would sing "featured" selections (that to the average observer were anthems), but were really composed liturgical settings of texts that fit in those specific moments of the Service. Most of their literature seemed to be from the 19th/20th centuries.

This was an incredible experience, though long. There are no pews in an Orthodox Church, so one must stand throughout the 1.5 hour long Service. However, if the babushkas could do it, so could I!