Article – Hymnography
On the Evening of the 25th of August 2026, St George Cathedral was blessed to listen to Joseph Sawaya give a talk on the hymnography of the Orthodox faith. A chanter at St. Mary’s in Mt. Pritchard, Joseph introduced us to the techniques of Orthodox hymnography and invited us to explore how the hymns of the church can impact each of us.
Joseph began by defining hymnography as the art of sacred poetry, placing it among the other sacred arts of the Church, such as iconography, chanting, and architecture. While hymnography is closely tied to chanting, the art of sacred music, it remains a complete art in itself. Writing sacred poetry, or hymns, is not simply a matter of stringing “church-y” phrases together. It is a careful process, requiring a mastery of meter, language, history, theology, and hagiography. Most importantly of all, hymnography requires the gift and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
He emphasized two major aspects of Orthodox hymnography: doxology (praise) and didacticism (teaching). Hymns are first and foremost songs of praise to God. As Joseph pointed out, even in hymns dedicated to the saints, God is still praised as the source and end of their goodness. In addition, our hymns are designed, down to their melody and meter, to teach us about our faith. Orthodox hymnography draws from the holy Scriptures and the patristic texts, setting them to music to make them more memorable and digestible for the faithful.
By simply attending service, we can begin to follow the example of the Theotokos and store these treasures up in our hearts and offer praise to God all at once!
Many thanks to Joseph for sharing his time, passion, and expertise with us.
