News
OCA to Observe Church Musician Sunday on October 4
The OCA will observe Church Musician Sunday on October 4 by recognizing the many people who serve the Church through liturgical music.
SPRINGFIELD, VA — The Orthodox Church in America (OCA) will observe its annual Church Musician Sunday on October 4, giving parishes an opportunity to recognize those who serve the Church through liturgical music. The observance was established by the OCA Holy Synod of Bishops in 2022 and is held on the first Sunday of October in connection with the October 1 commemorations of Sts. Romanus the Melodist and John Koukouzelis.
Parishes are encouraged to recognize the many people involved in church music, including choir directors, singers, chanters, readers, composers, arrangers, bell-ringers, hymnographers, hymnologists, and liturgical translators. The OCA also recommends including those involved in parish musical ministries in the Augmented Litany and the singing of Many Years following the Sunday Divine Liturgy.
The observance provides an opportunity for communities to consider how they can strengthen their musical ministries. The OCA encourages parishes to nurture the gifts needed for church music, including through appropriate remuneration for trained choir directors and adequate funding for choir-director formation. Parishes are also encouraged to share the 2026 message from Metr. Tikhon and promote the observance in bulletins and online.
The OCA Department of Liturgical Music provides training for directors, singers, and readers, along with resources containing liturgical texts, rubrics, musical notes, and other materials. Graphics in several formats have also been prepared for parishes to use in printed publications and online as they prepare for October 4.
Church Musician Sunday offers an annual opportunity to express gratitude for those whose service supports Orthodox worship through music. The OCA is encouraging parishes throughout the country to mark the occasion and recognize the individuals who contribute to their communities’ liturgical and musical life.
Donations to the Stewards of the OCA help provide essential funding for such ongoing ministries and projects of the OCA.
Previously, the UOJ reported that the Dayton Liturgical Music Workshop will benefit Orthodox seminarians.
Read also
