St. Petersburg Christian University - "Kreshenski Nights" International Festival

"Kreshenski Nights" International Festival

Long ago, before 1917, the Evangelical churches which were active in St. Petersburg, the capital of the Russian empire, took part in "Kreshenski Nights" Music Festivals. Among the participants were the Lutheran Evangelical Church, Reformed churches, the British-American English Church,

Evangelical Christian Baptist churches, and The House of Good News church. This all started with the 300-year anniversary of the Reformation in 1817, which was celebrated for 3 days in the church of Sts. Peter and Paul on Nevsky Prospect. In 1917, the 400-year anniversary of the Reformation, the main dignitaries of the State and even the czar himself and members of the imperial family attended the festival.

It's hard to imagine what situation might have developed if the soviet powers had not taken the path of total eradication of religion at the end of the 1920's. What did happen was that Evangelical music, as a genre, became ideologically forbidden. For a long time such music simply was not a part of society's common memory; the musical life of Russia was forgotten and lost its vigor.

In 2005, the "Kreshenski Nights" International Festival of Evangelical Culture was revived as a sequel to the historical concerts which had been conducted in Sts. Peter and Paul church. The old, wonderful traditions rooted in earlier St. Petersburg times were renewed.

This year the festival took place in 3 churches in St Petersburg over a period of 6 days (from January 15-20): the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul on Nevski Prospect, St. Mary's Evangelical Lutheran Church on Bolshaya Konyushina, and in the Swedish Saint Catherine Church on Malaya Konyushina.

The first day of the festival was dedicated to choral music and a wide selection of choral groups made presentations. On the second day, folk music was celebrated; the Good News Church of St Petersburg demonstrated the art of its Russian folk instrument orchestra. On the following day there was an evening of singing and poetry with individual performers presenting various songs and poems including poet L.I. Boleslavski and other solo artists with both classical and Christian repertoires. The 4th day was dedicated to symphonic music; the chamber music of the "Credo" orchestra delighted the audience.

January 19th was the holy day feast commemorating the Lord's baptism. That was a day of virtuosos. A violin, viola, cello, French horn, and even a balalaika in the hands of talanted artists fascinated listeners with their truly not-of-this-earth music. Our remarkable Christian poet, L.I. Boleslavski, appeared once more and the rector of St. Petersburg Christian University, A.I. Negrov, gave a sermon about baptism.

The closing of the festival took place on Sunday in the large Concert Hall of Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. This vast room was more than full. Spectators were even sitting on the stairs. The best groups again performed for this day's audience. It seemed as if that night provided a representation of everything that is good in the world. To be sure, circling in the hearts of many who came was the refrain: "All this is for the glory of the Lord!"

The sponsors of this festival were: St. Petersburg Christian University; St. Petersburg Evangelical Theological Academy; publishers "Bibles for All," Shandal, Mirt, Radio Teos, Transworld Radio; and the Gideon and Wycliffe organizations. The festival took place under the auspices of the evangelical churches of St Petersburg and the Russian concert society "Leviticus."