Byzantine chants found in the Orthodox Church can be traced back to ancient Jewish melodies. The monophonic chants are still used in the Church today. As an adaptation to western music, the Church (most often the Russian Orthodox Church) uses polyphonic melodies and chants.
Agios Romanos the Melodist is the patron saint of singers, music, and the writer of the majority of kontakions in the Orthodox Church.
It has been said by the church fathers, "He who sings well, prays twice!" Sing well and Praise the Lord with every breath!
RAAG AASAA, THIRD MEHL, PATEE THE ALPHABET: ONE UNIVERSAL CREATOR GOD. BY THE GRACE OF THE TRUE GURU: Ayo, Angai: The whole world which was created Kaahkai, Ghangai: It shall pass away. Reeree, Laalee: People commit sins, and falling into vice, forget virtue. || 1 || O mortal, why have you studied such an account, which shall call you to answer for payment? || 1 || Pause || Sidhan, Ngaayiyai: You do not remember the Lord. Nanna: You do not take the Lord's Name. Chhachha: You are wearing away, every night and day; you fool, how will you find release? You are held in the grip of death. || 2 || Babba: You do not understand, you fool; deluded by doubt, you are wasting your life. Without justification, you call yourself a teacher; thus you take on the loads of others. || 3 || Jajja: You have been robbed of your Light, you fool; in the end, you shall have to depart, and you shall regret and repent. You have not remembered the One Word of the Shabad, and so you shall have to enter the womb over and over again. || 4 || Read that which is written on your forehead, O Pandit, and do not teach wickedness to others. First, the teacher is tied down, and then, the noose is placed around the pupil's neck. || 5 || Sassa: You have lost your self-discipline, you fool, and you have accepted an offering under false pretenses. The daughter of the alms-giver is just like your own; by accepting this payment for performing the wedding ceremony, you have cursed your own life. || 6 || Mamma: You have been cheated out your intellect, you fool, and you are afflicted with the great disease of ego. Within your innermost self, you do not recognize God, and you compromise yourself for the sake of Maya. || 7 || Kakka: You wander around in sexual desire and anger, you fool; attached to possessiveness, you have forgotten the Lord. You read, and reflect, and proclaim out loud, but without understanding, you are drowned to death. || 8 || Tatta: In anger, you are bur
