excellent, state-of-the-art performances… It is ravishing, invariably, and quite refreshing if you are not familiar. Either way this one is a milestone.

this album provides a new tool not only for self-examination but for indulgence in the rich sensual heritage of Byzantine singing. Kassianí’s songs demand to be heard, and we are enriched by listening to them, especially in this authentic and deeply expressive collection.

Certainly an important release for those who appreciate early music and a must have for those teaching Medieval period music. … Highly Recommended!

The music is rather striking… The performances transport the listener back in time to experience this music in stunning sound. … Highly Recommended!

If you turn it up and close your eyes you feel like you’re in a vast church or cathedral… sit back and listen, and let Cappella Romana’s superb singers transport you

Cappella Romana are specialists in Byzantine chant, and this album is a stunner. … Hearing this recording in surround made me feel like I was standing in the Hagia [Sophia] when these hymns were new. I am so looking forward to the next installment.”

an extraordinary feat… impeccably researched and unimpeachably convincing. … No chant enthusiast should be without it.

What makes this album so remarkable, in addition to its focus on the first extant music known to be by a female composer, is the genuinely transportive effect…

Sheehan and his fine singers have brought to life a new piece that bridges the gap both between the centuries and between the traditions of East and West.

The work itself is fresh and vibrant… This is a superb effort on many fronts, not least of which is the quality of the work itself. The production is engineered by the wonderful technicians at Soundmirror, which is self-recommending, and the St. Tikhon’s ensemble is spot on, captured in brilliant surround sound.

The music’s warmth and, above all, its assurance that what the performers sing is true is remarkable. … as an experience, the Blu-ray service is unforgettable. This could constitute a rare entry of religious music into my Wants List

the music Sheehan has created for this Liturgy is of extraordinary beauty, depth of feeling, and spiritual exaltation. Although it sometimes rises to the heights of ecstasy, the predominant mood, conveyed by beautiful, gently undulating melodic lines, is one of serenity and contemplation, permeated by a sense of awe and otherworldly mystery.

The CD alone would make this release a must-have; the accompanying Blu-ray disc is even more of a knock-out. … If you were to have only one recording of the Orthodox liturgy in your collection, I would unhesitatingly recommend that this be it; urgently, glowingly recommended.

Sheehan’s music is very beautiful and inventive… the level of invention and musical dedication is consistently high throughout. … Benedict Sheehan’s music is wonderful but so too is the performance by The Saint Tikhon Choir. The singers make a fantastic sound which consistently delights the ear.

This is a recording unlike any other I’ve heard.… The music is astonishing, the performances are superb and the sound is demonstration quality. This is a formidable achievement.

To say that this is a gorgeous performance feels a bit sacrilegious, and yet that is indeed one way to describe the stunning music and choral work.… Regardless of one’s faith expression, this music on its own has the power to heal your soul and transform you from the present moment.

When listening to it I became wondrously aware that the magic of what Benedict Sheehan conveys so impressively with this world premiere recording, may offer to many, whether or not being an active believer, that so much needed refuge

this album is an addition of rare grace and refinement to the living music heritage of the Eastern rites. It will delight the Orthodox and the discerning non-Orthodox music-lover equally, and, perhaps, in its own way, contribute to greater understanding in a fragmented and disjointed world.

I highly recommend this album to those who enjoy liturgical music especially music that is rich in history and tradition. Let the voices of the Saint Tikhon’s Choir bring the liturgy to you especially during these difficult times.

it should be enjoyed generally by lovers of well wrought choral music, regardless of whether or not they have this, or indeed any, religious belief. Recommended.