Press Release:
Conference on Plain Chant

Blessed Theodore Romzha
Greek Catholic Theological Academy
Of Uzhorod

June 25-26-27, 2006

International Academic Conference
On the occasion of the 
100th Anniversary of the First Printing of the 
PROSTOPINIJE
By Rev. Fr. John Bokshay

	Bishop Milan Shashik, apostolic administrator of the Mukachevo Eparchy, has announced the speakers and program of the Conference dedicated to the topic of the prostopinije, the liturgical plain chant of the Mukachevo Eparchy and the churches originating from the Eparchy of Mukachevo beginning with a Moleben to the Holy Spirit at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Uzhorod, Ukraine on Sunday, June 25th at 7:30 pm.  Bishop Milan will welcome participants from the Eparchies of Mukachevo, Presov and Kosice in Slovakia, Hajdudorog in Hungary, Krisevtsi in Croatia, Ruski Kerestur in Serbia as well as from the Ruthenian Eparchies of the United States and the Slovak Eparchy in Canada.  Letters of invitation have been sent to all the Eparchies which have their roots in the Eparchy of Mukachevo.

	Speakers from the Oriental Institute in Rome, Slovakia, Hungary, the United States, Serbia, and from the Eparchy of Mukachevo will reflect of the themes of the Plain Chant Tradition of Mukachevo addressed from different perspectives.  Different language uses of the plain chant tradition will be offered by seminarians from Presov in Slovakia, Nyiregyhaza in Hungary and Uzhorod.  A short film showing the chant at the various pilgrimages will be shown.  Ecumenical perspectives will be shared by two Orthodox Archbishops from the United States.
The conference languages are Ukrainian and English.  A book of the Proceedings of the Conference will be published in Ukrainian and English.  

	“The spiritual heritage we have received through the plain chant tradition of our Greek Catholic Church is our united and common voice in praise and thanksgiving in the liturgical services of our Church.  Our liturgical plain chant tradition identifies us, unites us, and distinguishes us as one Church in the Byzantine Tradition.  The testimony of this common usage is an important reason to celebrate together the 100th anniversary of the first printing of the Prostopinije” explained Fr. Taras Lovska, Rector of the Blessed Theodore Romzha Theological Academy which is hosting this Conference.  “The common plain chant of our Greek Catholic Church is a uniting and life giving heritage that we have received.”

	Anyone interested in further details or attending is asked to write to:  Prostopinije Conference, Blessed Theodore Romzha Theological Academy, Patrusa Karpatskoho 2A, Minaj, Uzhorod Rajon, Ukraine 89424 or email at: 
seminarium_romzha@utel.net.ua