On Friday, June 13, at the Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary, the Academy Choir gave a concert marking the conclusion of the academic year. The choir, conducted by Lekso Gremelashvili, has been active since 2018. It consists of six members, all of whom are students of the Tbilisi Theological Academy: Iver Svanidze, Luka Bzukashvili, Lasha Bzukashvili, Tevdore Gogoladze, Zurab Mchedlishvili, and Aleksandre Bregvadze.
At today’s event, in addition to the members of the Academy Choir, hymns were performed by invited guests: graduates of the Tbilisi Theological Academy, Giorgi Askurava and Ekvtime Krupitski—monks from the Monastery of the Holy Cross located in the village of Sameba in the Tsalka region—as well as Giorgi Abramishvili, Master of Musicology, choir director and chanter, and chanter Beka Dadvani.
The concert was hosted by Lekso Gremelashvili. Hymns from the Kartli-Kakhetian, Shemokmedi, and Gelati chant schools were performed, including: Lord of Heaven, Blessed Are You, a hymn to the All-Holy Mother of God, the Troparion of Saint Queen Ketevan, the Troparion of Saint King David the Restorer, and Holy God.
The monks of the Holy Cross Monastery performed the following hymns: O Lord, I Cry to You (Tone D); To Your Throne, O Lord, I Cry (Tone G); two hymns from the Shemokmedi School — Hymn to the Forerunner and Hymn to Saint Nino; and hymns sung in the periods of fasting — I Will Glorify, Helper and Savior, and Hope and Intercessor.
The concert was attended by the Rector of the Tbilisi Theological Academy and Seminary, Protopresbyter Giorgi Zviadadze; the Vice-Rector for Academic and Administrative Affairs, Archpriest Besarion Tsintsadze; as well as professors and students. The choir’s performance was highly appreciated by the audience.
The Head of the Department of Liturgy and Doctrinal Theology, Doctor of Theology, Professor Archdeacon Demetre (Davitashvili), highly praised the choir’s performance. He expressed his gratitude to Lekso Gremelashvili and the members of the choir for their dedicated work, devotion, and love for Georgian hymnody.