This weekend, Athens will come alive with melodies that serve as prayers, as the 3rd edition of the Sacred Music Festival kicks off, blending art, tradition, and spirituality. Organized by the Ministry of Culture and the Greek National Opera, the festival spans from April 13 through Holy Wednesday, transforming the city into a stage for profound spiritual experiences.

Iconic landmarks such as the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Dionysius the Areopagite will host concerts, while the Acropolis Museum also opens its doors for a series of special performances. These concerts, held on April 13 and 14, aim to highlight the role of sacred music in shaping Western civilization.

Snapshot from events that took place in April 2024 at the Acropolis Museum, as part of its participation in the 2nd Festival of Sacred Music. Photo by: Giorgos Kalkanidis.

Sunday, April 13

“Vassilis Tsitsanis 100 Years – The Saint of Love”

Museum Courtyard, 17:00

This concert celebrates the centenary of Vassilis Tsitsanis, one of Greece’s most influential popular musicians. The performance will connect the world of Byzantine hymns with Tsitsanis’ iconic songs, interpreted by acclaimed singer Dimitra Galani, with Manolis Pappos on bouzouki and vocals. Also featured are the Estoudiantina Nea Ionia Orchestra of Volos and the Greek Byzantine Choir, under the direction of Giorgos Konstantinou.

Tsitsanis, known for capturing the passions of everyday people, often focused on women, particularly the image of the mother, whom he likened to the Virgin Mary. His music resonates with the sounds of Byzantine tradition, drawing powerful connections between sacred and folk music. The concert will trace the journey of love, pain, sacrifice, death, and redemption, linking the Divine Drama with Tsitsanis’ evocative folk ballads.

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Holy Monday, April 14

“O Sweet Springtime”

Museum Courtyard, 17:30 & 19:30

Featuring works by Mikis Theodorakis and hymns of Holy Friday
Orchestration and music direction: Thanasis Papathanasiou
Bass-baritone: Tasos Apostolou
Performed by: Vamos Orchestra

The Vamos Orchestra, a distinguished Cretan ensemble, offers a fresh perspective on Holy Week, balancing sorrow with the anticipation of Resurrection. The first part of the concert will feature Mikis Theodorakis’ Epitaphios (1958), based on poetry by Yiannis Ritsos. Theodorakis’ symphonic arrangement of Ritsos’ verses reflects the image of a mother mourning her child during the 1936 labor strikes in Thessaloniki.

Tasos Apostolou, Vamos Orchestra , Photo by Andreas Simopoulos

The second part presents Mauthausen (1965), a work by Theodorakis based on texts by Iakovos Kambanellis, which tells the tragic love story of two prisoners in the Mauthausen concentration camp, where Kambanellis himself was held during WWII.

The final piece, Ai Genai Pasae (“All Generations”), focuses on an excerpt from the Lamentations of Holy Friday, offering an innovative orchestral arrangement that blends instrumental music with Orthodox chant, providing a contemporary reflection on the spirit of Holy Week.

All concerts at the Acropolis Museum are free to attend, with no reservation required. Entry will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

For the detailed program of the 3rd Sacred Music Festival please go here.