One can hear sincerity and belief in music regardless of one’s own beliefs, and that in itself can become a spiritual and transformative experience. Certainly, that is the case here, as the radiance of Benedict Sheehan’s piece is beyond doubt. … The performances do the seemingly impossible: they bring the liturgy to vibrant, immediate life while referencing, upholding, and above all respecting the tradition they represent and, in the very act of performance itself, prolong. The choral sound is lush and impeccably balanced, solo contributions confident, forthright, and ever spiritual. Regarding format, there is one performance on compact disc (disc one); the second is a Blu-ray of that recorded performance plus the premieres of two short hymns from the Liturgy and the liturgical premiere of the complete Liturgy. …

The choir certainly has the sound required, including basses that could easily have been shipped across from Saint Petersburg, so earth-tremblingly grounding are they. Some techniques are taken across from this music’s rich history: the use of double choir is one such. One can identify influences from Schütz to Pärt, and to do so underscores the historical lineage; but one has to remember the freshness of the now that is a vital part of this music also.…

The music’s warmth and, above all, its assurance that what the performers sing is true is remarkable. The idea of a 21st century American Orthodox liturgy built upon the Russian Orthodox tradition is a mouth-watering one… Musically, of course, it is to the compact disc performance that I will most often return; but as an experience, the Blu-ray service is unforgettable. This could constitute a rare entry of religious music into my Wants List … who knows?”