Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Phosagro – Phosagro – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Bari (Apulia region, Italy). On December 23, 2025, on the feast day of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the youth choir of the Cherepovets Diocese participated in the Divine Liturgy and gave a concert in the papal basilica where the saint's relics are kept. PhosAgro helped organize the musical group's performance.
Bishop Ignatius of Cherepovets and Belozersk led the festive service under the vaults of the ancient church. He recalled that St. Nicholas the Wonderworker is venerated in Christianity as a symbol of mercy, intercession, and swift aid in times of need. This veneration unites the spiritual canons of Orthodoxy and Catholicism, as well as liturgical tradition and popular love, in which the saint's image has occupied a special, almost familial place.
"Pilgrimage is a spiritual journey that brings great benefit to the believer and is a source of inspiration. This pilgrimage and today's prayer at this holy site, in the heart of the Italian city of Bari, which has attracted believers from all over the world for centuries, are more than just a journey for us. It is also a sincere expression of our love for St. Nicholas, an expression of our faith and hope in his intercession and swift assistance," noted Bishop Ignatius of Cherepovets and Belozersk.
On this festive day, thousands of believers from across Europe, including many Russians living abroad, came to venerate the Christian relic. They offered prayers to God accompanied by the crystalline voices of the youth choir of the Cherepovets Diocese.
The ensemble includes students and teachers from the Cherepovets College of Arts, as well as young parishioners from churches in the Cherepovets Diocese. That evening, at the Papal Basilica of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, they presented a new concert program, "Confirm, God!", to an Italian audience, combining sacred and Russian choral works.
The guests were treated to majestic liturgical hymns, as well as choral versions of beloved folk songs. Among them were "Ah, You Wide Steppe," "The Horse," "Polyushko-Pole," "Raspberry Ringing," "Smuglyanka," and other pieces.
"Our choir's performance at the Basilica of St. Nicholas in Bari is more than just a concert, but another building block in strengthening the centuries-old cultural dialogue between Russia and Italy. Our creative mission has become the bridge that unites people's hearts through the great power of music and theology. All the students feel this responsibility and are grateful for the opportunity to share their creativity through music," says Svetlana Bobrova, Director of the Cherepovets School of Arts and Crafts named after V.V. Vereshchagin.
The audience that came to hear the young soloists from Cherepovets that evening noted the highest level of performance, as well as the love for God and their native land that permeates the ensemble's entire repertoire.
"I've lived in Italy for almost thirty years. Wonderful news of the youth choir's performance spread among the Russian-speaking community of our city long before today. This native music touched the deepest chords of my soul. Here in Italy, we hear a wide variety of music, but a choir of this caliber is a rarity. My deepest gratitude to the choirmaster and all the musicians for this delight. May God grant that we may once again see the youth choir from Cherepovets in this sacred place," said Svetlana Kuzmenko, a resident of Bari and art critic, sharing her emotions about the concert.
The Cherepovets Diocese Youth Choir's visit to Italy was held under the auspices of the Russian Ministry of Culture's "Cultural Mission to Italy" project, with the assistance of PhosAgro and the Center for Film Festivals and International Programs.
"Supporting the spiritual values and centuries-old traditions of Orthodoxy is a crucial part of PhosAgro's social mission. Previously, our company regularly organized pilgrimage tours for its employees to Christian holy sites in Bari. I am delighted that, despite all the objective difficulties, this kind tradition is gradually being restored, expanding each year. On the eve of the New Year and Christmas holidays, young soloists from the youth choir brought a piece of St. Nicholas's grace to Cherepovets, helping to erase borders between states through kindness, music, and eternal Christian values," said Alexander Gilgenberg, CEO of PhosAgro.
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