Congregational singing in St. Petersburg diocese at the turn of the 19–20th centuries

In the Russian Empire at the turn of the 19th – 20th centuries, there is a great interest in the practice of congregational singing. The documents of the Russian Local Council of 1917-1918, choir congresses, reports on the activities of church brotherhoods and societies, as well as publications in the press allow to judge to what significant extent the congregational singing at divine services was organized. Definitely, the support of the higher church hierarchy played a special role, as it is demonstrated by the Decrees of the Holy Synod, issued back in 1804 and 1847. At the beginning of the 20th century a solid foundation which enabled a broad participation of the people in divine service through singing and reading church hymns in the St. Petersburg diocese, where for a long time professional church singing and author's liturgical music were actively supported and developed, as well as in other large dioceses (Moscow, Tambov, Kazan, etc.) was built. These were special church orders that dispose the clergy to new parish activities, teaching parishioners and students of parish schools church singing, publishing materials for nationwide liturgical singing (Liturgy, Vespers, Matins, Moleben, Panikhida). Priests Mikhail Dubensky, Konstantin Lorchenko, Nikolai Kurlov, as well as the Alexander - Nevsky Temperance society were active organizers and leaders of the congregational singing at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries in the St. Petersburg diocese.There is no doubt that the study of the history of the congregational singing and the accumulated rich practical experience is of high importance precisely today, when this ancient tradition, which remains a powerful means of not only uniting people in the church, but also of enlightening and educating them in the Christian faith, is reviving and expanding.