Chapter 1: A Catholic Drawn to the Orthodox
The university was in Yotsuya, Tokyo, so I used to go to St Nicholas’ Cathedral in Ochanomizu, two stops away on the Chuo Line.
I am a Catholic, but I feel that the Eastern Orthodox Church is our other brother.
And I liked Tolstoy and was interested in the Russian Orthodox Church.
Chapter 2: Experiencing Sunday Service
So I went to Sunday services.
St Nicholas Cathedral in Ochanomizu was built with the help of the Russian Empire during the Meiji era.
There I was overwhelmed by the Russian-style polyphonic chant.
It echoed through the cathedral, with its sad melody sung by many people.
Hundreds of candles flickered in front of the icons.
I was also surprised to see that, in the Orthodox tradition, people basically stood during the prayers. I knew that people prostrated themselves in prayer, but when I saw them prostrate themselves in front of me, I realised that this was really an Eastern teaching.
Chapter 3: Welcoming Sunday School
When I said to the priest of the church, “I’m a Catholic and I don’t intend to convert, but I want to know about the Eastern Orthodox Church,” he kindly allowed me to attend Sunday school.
There I learnt that St Augustine, the great saint of the Western Church, was only a blessed man in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Holy wafer was fermented bread in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Wine was also drunk by everyone.
I attended Sunday school twice and the believers were very friendly and not once did they try to convert me.
Chapter 4: Traditions and Respect
I felt a deep respect for the Eastern Orthodox Church and thought to myself, “This is indeed a religion with a tradition that has been going on for 2,000 years.
Chapter 5: The Power of Music
I love Russian music.
When I found this music on Youtube, I was deeply moved.
In the Orthodox Church they don’t use any instruments because they believe that the human voice is the best instrument that God has made.
When Peter the Great of Russia studied in Europe as a crown prince, he was overwhelmed by the western pipe organ, and when he became Tsar he ordered all the best musicians in the country to “create church music that surpasses the pipe organ”.
The result is said to have been the Russian chant of today, in which people of different pitches sing in unison in large numbers.
I would be delighted if you liked this sad and deeply moving Russian chant.
You can listen to it if you like.
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