The International Symposium
“The Church as a Singing Family in the Christian Tradition”
Iași, Romania / 25–31 May 2026
Call for Papers
The Archdiocese of Iași and the Faculty of Orthodox Theology "Saint Dumitru Stăniloae" organize, between May 25–31, 2026, the 9th edition of the Iași Byzantine Music Festival. Within this edition, in collaboration with the International Society for Orthodox Church Music, the University of Eastern Finland and the "George Enescu" National University of Arts in Iași, we are pleased to announce the organization of the International Symposium “The Church as a Singing Family in the Christian Tradition”.
From antiquity to the present, Christians have sung together in public liturgy, monastic communities, and personal devotions. We therefore invite proposals for papers exploring how different groups of past and present believers within the Orthodox Church—major and minor orders of clergy, ascetics, and ordinary congregants: children, women and men—have formed a singing family in Christ. We encourage submissions representing a range of methodological approaches – historical, social, and theological – to the musical practices and repertories covered by the conference theme.
Some indicative topics are:
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Soloists, choirs, and congregations in public liturgy: historical practice and Orthodox ecclesiology
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Monastic psalmody in communal worship and private devotions
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Female singers and women's choirs
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The singing of children
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Chants honouring the Mother of God or other holy women
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The programme also allows for free papers.
Submission of abstracts
If you are interested in giving a presentation of 20 minutes or presenting a poster, please submit an abstract of 250 words by 28 February 2026 using our online abstract submission form or this e-mail: iasibizantin@gmail.com.
The conference will take place physically, and we encourage everyone to attend in Iasi (Romania).
Accommodation and meals for accepted participants are provided by the organizers.
The language of the conference is English.
Articles based on papers presented at the symposium will be published in a collective volume by Doxologia publishing house. It is expected that all presenters submit their papers to either the refereed articles or the conference papers section in time for publication.
Proposals are due by 28 February 2026. Acceptance notifications will be sent by 15 March 2026.
Further information will be made available on the organizers' websites:
ISOCM Conferences