Spiritual Songs according to The Carpatho-Ruthenian Tradition

The Ruthenian people under the Carpathian Mountains, besides their own liturgical chant (cf. Byzantine Leaflet Series, No. 23, highlighted last week), developed another kind of religious singing, known as the Spiritual Songs. These devotional songs, by their simplicity and musical freshness, captivated the hearts of the people and were kept alive throughout the centuries mostly by oral tradition. Today they are considered a treasured part of our Ruthenian spiritual heritage.

"When you come together, sing the words of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, and go on singing and chanting to the Lord in your hearts, so that always and everywhere you give thanks to God, Who is our Father in our Lord Jesus Christ." (Eph. 5:19-20)