Oratorio "Saint Demetrios"

2 views
Skip to first unread message

Dr. Ilias Chrissochoidis

unread,
Oct 9, 2025, 7:18:25 PM (8 days ago) Oct 9
to MGSA List
Dear list members,

Should you observe, personally or institutionally, the feast of Saint Demetrios (October 26), patron saint of Thessaloniki and one of the most popular saints in Orthodox Christianity, you are welcome to explore and use material from the namesake oratorio by Nicolas Astrinidis (1921-2010) to a libretto by George Themelis (1900-1976).

The most significant symphonic work on Thessaloniki's history, the oratorio was commissioned in 1962 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the city's liberation. Its 90-minute-long narrative, performed by a full orchestra, mixed choir, and solo voices, dramatizes the life, martyrdom, and apotheosis of young Demetrios in a symphonic language that can easily be understood and appreciated outside Greece. The score was composed in Paris, and, among other features, it includes original Byzantine melodies, especially a four-part rendering of the Saint's apolytikion:
https://www.academia.edu/249389/ (Greek translation)

Information on the composer and his works:

Best regards,

Ilias Chrissochoidis


Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages