The Deacons
Voices That Are Not Harmonized!!
It is not fitting for the deacons to chant the hymns of the Liturgy with discordant, unharmonized voices, in a way that creates dissonance in the church, and causes the deacons not to chant with one spirit…
This may sometimes happen because of the love of appearance, when one of them raises his voice to be louder than the others. Or when he chants loudly in a manner different from the rest, in order to force them to submit to his way.
Others may insist on their own method, and here the conflict and contradiction become clearly visible before the congregation. It is no longer prayer, but rather clashes for control over leading the hymn.
The same thing may occur when two groups of deacons, who are not in agreement, pray together.
In this case, the wise advise that each group chant a hymn or response on its own, while the other remains silent. Thus, the two groups pray alternately.
Contradiction may also occur when the methods of receiving (the hymns) differ.
That is, when the chanters have received their hymns from several teachers, each having his own different method. In this case, they need to sit together before the Liturgy to ضبط (adjust) their hymns and unify them.
Dissonance in the hymn may also occur because of the congregation:
When the people join the hymn with loud voices, and each chants in his own way.
The solution to this problem is for the people, in their chanting, to submit to the leadership of the deacons.
The harmony of hymns requires humility…
It requires that the chanter submit to the leadership of another. He should not rely on himself, nor impose his voice, nor impose his method. Rather, he should pray in a low voice under the leadership of another until he adjusts his tone with him, and then he raises his voice…
And whenever he senses a variation in the tone, he lowers his voice and leaves room for others, so that the unity of the sound may remain harmonious.
An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – Al-Keraza Magazine – Year Eight (Issue Twenty-Eight) 15-7-1977
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