Arvo Pärt and Cyrillus Kreek Sacred Music by Estonian Orthodox Composers

Date:	October 15, 2025 \| 19:30 (Wed)
Venue:	Ss.Cyril and Methodius Cathedral
Duration:	60 minutes
Intermission:	No
Status:	Available

Buy ticket
Group discount 10+ people
Ticket in your mobile device accepted

Get captivated by the profound beauty of Estonian sacred music with works by Arvo Pärt and Cyrillus Kreek, performed by Ensemble Hilaris

Program:

Arvo Pärt | Kanon pokajanen (selections), Triodion, Drei Hinterkinder aus Fátima, The Deer’s Cry
Cyrillus Kreek | Taaveti laulud (Psalms) 1, 22, 104, 121, and 141

Performing:

Ensemble Hilaris
Kryštof Spirit - choirmaster

About the Archaion Kallos festival:

The Archaion Kallos International Festival of Orthodox Music offers a beautiful spiritual and musical experience. In its literal sense, the Greek expression “archaion kallos” means “ancient beauty,” but in the vocabulary of the Holy Fathers of the Eastern Christian Church, “archaion kallos” speaks of a certain archetype, an “original beauty;” that is to say, the beauty which man beheld in Paradise and which he experienced after Creation. The Philokallia Association (philokallia, a word of Greek origin meaning “love of the beautiful”) gave this name to the first and only festival of Orthodox music in Prague because they perceive every act in sacred music, whether of composition or interpretation, as a kind of conscious or unconscious search for this pristine beauty, the Archaion Kallos.

The festival is held under the auspices of
The Minister of Culture, Mgr. Martin Baxa,
The Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic, H.E. Mr. Dinos Konstantinou,
The Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia, H.E. Ms. Jana Vanaveski,
The Municipal District of Prague 2

and with the blessings of
His Eminence Michal, Archbishop of Prague and the Czech Lands.

Important:

The concert is held under the auspices of the Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia, H.E. Ms. Jana Vanaveski
and with the support of the Embassy of Estonia in Prague
No intermission
Dress code: casual
Program subject to change

Explore Prague with a guide.

Venue photo gallery

Ss.Cyril and Methodius Cathedral

Address:	Resslova 9a , Praha 2 - Nové Město
Capacity:	100
Type:	Church
Winter heating:	Yes
Wheelchair access:	No

The main Orthodox church of Czech lands & memorial of the Operation Anthropoid

The Orthodox Cathedral of Ss Cyril and Methodius was originally a catholic church. Built in 1736 by Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer and Pavel Ignác Bayer, it was dedicated to St. Charles Borromeo. The church was deconsecrated in the reforms of Emperor Joseph II and in 1785, with the neighboring house for retired priests, it was converted into a military depot and barracks.

In 1921, the Czechoslovak Orthodox Church was founded. The Church gained (at that time) unused temple and restored it. It has become the main Orthodox Church of Czech lands and a cathedral, seat of bishop. Occasional classical music concerts and regular services are held at the church.

Nowadays, the Cathedral of Ss Cyril and Methodius is famous due to Operation Anthropoid.

After the successful assassination on Reichsprotektor Reinhardt Heydrich on 27th May 1942, the group of seven brave Czechoslovak paratroopers were offered a shelter in Church´s krypt. Unfortunately, after few days, the SS troops discovered them and attacked the church. The paratroopers resisted and in last minute, before the SS would capture them, they committed suicide. Their last words were: "We will not surrender. Never. We are Czech."

The Operation Anthropoid resulted in furious vengeance of the Nazis. The towns Lidice and Ležáky were exterminated, all men killed, women and children abducted in the concentration camps. Bishop Gorazd and other representatives of the Czech Orthodox Church and their family members were executed for sheltering paratroopers.

Nowadays, in the Church and in the crypt is the National Monument to the Heroes of the Terror of Heydrich.

How to get there:

Accessibility by Prague public transport:
metro B (yellow line) - Karlovo náměstí station
tram - Karlovo náměstí stop
Nearest car parking:
Central Parking Prague, Karlovo nám. 292/15