Malista Interviews: Chris Zervos, A Renaissance Man

Chris Zervos' liturgical setting will be heard at Divine Liturgy at the Clergy Laity Conference on July 16, 2006. Malista had an opportunity to spend sometime with him and capture his thoughts and feelings related to this priviledge.

What is your composition titled?

My composition is titled: The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom: A Bilingual Choral Setting. It is set, musically, for mixed choirs (men's and women's voices). It will be used by the choir singing on Sunday, July 16, 2006, at the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy which precedes the opening of the Biennial Clergy Laity Congress of the Archdiocese of America.

How did you decide on your arrangements?

For the most part, my arrangements are based on simplified hymn chants brought to America at the beginning of the 20th c. These modal presentations of the hymns are considered "traditional" in most American parishes. I adapted these hymn "melodies" to permit either English or Greek texts to be sung in one musical score. My arrangements are original. In some hymns, both languages are used in a complimentary manner: one language antiphonally echoing and interpreting the other.

What motivated your composition?

My intent was to encourage greater understanding of the Divine Liturgy, regardless of language heritage, and to facilitate a choir responding in the language in which the priest offers prayers and petitions. Most priests in America chant alternatively in both Greek and English. This liturgical dialogue between celebrating priest and congregation is what makes Orthodox worship unique among other Christian faiths.

How did you feel when you heard that the Clergy Laity Conference had selected your setting?

I am absolutely humbled that my liturgical setting was selected to be used at the 2006 Clergy Laity Congress of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America in Nashville. The selection process was complex. Since the Congress is being hosted by the Metropolis of Detroit July 16 - 21, the choir will be formed by the Mid-Eastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians (MEFGOX) and the National Forum of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians. The Executive Board of MEFGOX recommended my setting to the Music Selection Committee of the National Forum which, in turn, then recommended it to His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios. The Archdiocese made the final approval. I have composed a new, all-Greek Cherubic Hymn, specifically for this event.

In 2001, Fr. Aristotle Damaskos, my parish priest in Toledo, asked me to create an arrangement of the hymn, EuloghtoV Ei Criste - Blessed Are You Christ, in both Greek and English and in one musical score to be used by parishioners of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Toledo as its Church Hymn. After I completed that, I began considering other hymns in the Divine Liturgy. During the frigid Midwest winter of 2002-03 I began in earnest. I had just retired from my business operations and had the time to devote to this labor of love. Although my college degree is not in music, my life experience as a student of music, choir singer, and organist for more than 40 years allowed me to complete the work quickly. It took 5 months to complete the basic hymns and responses and another 2 months to complete my Doxology and the Resurrection Apolytikia.

I put it aside for a few months while we prepared for my son's wedding. Over the next 6 months, I re-wrote it twice, making major edits, and adding 15 festal hymns. I also consulted with several notable Orthodox Church musicians, non-Orthodox professional musicians, choir directors, several clergy, and my Diocesan Hierarch. I tested it with three choirs. The first edition was copyrighted, published, and professionally recorded in 2004. A revised edition came out in 2005.

In July, 2005, the Mid-Eastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians performed it at its annual conference in Pittsburgh at the Holy Cross parish in Mount Lebanon, PA with Metropolitan Maximos and Metropolitan Nicholas con-celebrating.
Andriana Kolendrianos of Santa Barbara, CA was guest conductor. The New England Federation (Metropolis of Boston) has selected my setting for its annual conference in Nov., 2006. And I've just learned that the Southeast Federation (Metropolis of Atlanta) has selected it for its annual conferences in 2007 and 2008.

What are your plans for the future?

Working with the hymn and liturgical texts deepened my faith. I gained a greater understanding of the spiritual beauty and the emotional pathos found in these texts. As I worked on the music, I felt as though I could hear early Christians singing hymns of praise and thanksgiving, the supplicant prayers of salvation through the resurrected Christ, and the glory of the Holy Trinity. I'd never considered myself a spiritualist, but I truly felt the Holy Spirit with me.

I continue to work on new music every week. I find it intellectually stimulating to express myself creatively through my music. I have recently published "Faithfully Yours" which is a collection of original compositions of occasional music of faith celebrating the cycle of life.

Personal Information:

Chris J. Zervos was born, raised and educated in N.W. Ohio and at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Toledo. For 31 years he was a custom homebuilder and land developer in NW Ohio before entering public service as Supervisor of Operations for the Summit County (Ohio) Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities and now as a Manager in the Division of Neighborhoods and Economic Development for the City of Toledo. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toledo. Chris and his wife of 32 years, Persilla, have two children: Christopher (and wife, Tricia) and Jacqueline. They will become grandparents for the first time in November, 2006.

Malista thanks Chris for taking the time to share his thoughts and feelings so candidly. His story is an inspiration to all of us.

Malista!