Lux Aeterna: Byzantine and Gregorian Chants by the Artos Choir – St. John’s Church, Riga, October 25, 2026

Lux Aeterna: Byzantine and Gregorian Chants by the Artos Choir – St. John’s Church, Riga, October 25, 2026

On October 25, 2026, St. John’s Church in Riga will host the concert “Lux Aeterna: Byzantine and Gregorian Chants by the Artos Choir.” The concert begins at 19:00. Riga will welcome the Byzantine choir “Artos” from Vilnius, affiliated with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The programme brings together two important historical vocal traditions – Byzantine and Gregorian chant. The concert invites audiences to discover the sound worlds of ancient Eastern and Western chant. Liturgical hymns that have resonated for centuries in the basilicas of Constantinople and the monasteries of Rome will echo in the centre of Riga. The choir’s repertoire includes deeply spiritual chants. These chants are an important part of the musical heritage of the Middle Ages. At the heart of “Artos”’s performance will be the purity of the human voice and the nuances of ancient melodies. The concert is suitable for listeners seeking a peaceful and focused musical experience. It is an opportunity to hear the meeting of different cultures’ spiritual traditions in a single evening. The church’s acoustics will give the choral sound spaciousness and a distinctive atmosphere. “Lux Aeterna” will offer a momentary escape from the rush of everyday life. The melodies heard in the programme have transcended the boundaries of time and space for more than a thousand years. The concert will appeal to lovers of early music and choral music. It can also be enjoyed by anyone interested in sacred music traditions. St. John’s Church in Riga provides a historically fitting setting for this repertoire. Entry to the event begins at 18:30. Children under 7 years of age may enter free of charge if they do not occupy a separate seat. The main reason to attend the concert is the rare opportunity to hear Byzantine and Gregorian chant traditions in one choir’s programme.

What to expect at the event

In the “Lux Aeterna” programme, the “Artos” choir will perform Byzantine and Gregorian chants – two historically influential traditions of European vocal culture. Listeners will experience the sound of liturgical hymns and chants, in which the flow of the melody, the harmony of the voices and spiritual concentration play an essential role. The concert is designed as a journey through the world of ancient European music.

Venue and time

The concert will take place on October 25, 2026, at 19:00 at St. John’s Church in Riga, 24 Skārņu Street, Riga. The event lasts approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Tickets

Children under 7 years of age may enter free of charge if they do not occupy a separate seat.

Important information for visitors

• Entry to the event begins at 18:30.
• The event is open to visitors aged 5 and over.
• The choir will perform chants in Latin, Greek, Aramaic, Belarusian and Lithuanian.
• The event lasts approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes.
• A place is provided for a visitor using a wheelchair, and a discount is available.
• The venue address is 24 Skārņu Street, Riga.

Why attend

This concert is for listeners who want to hear the living power of early music and the nuances of the choral voice. The meeting of Byzantine and Gregorian chant offers an unusual musical experience in which historical heritage combines with the emotional atmosphere of an evening in the present. “Lux Aeterna” may become a special autumn cultural evening in the very heart of Riga’s Old Town.