11th Annual ST ALEXIS (TOTH) LECTURE
A Presentation by Fr. Mikel Hill, with Festive Reception
Sponsored by Boris-Hansen Committee
Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 2 pm
+ St Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral 1701 5th Street NE Minneapolis 55412 +
Paul Zaichenko: Minneapolis's Musical Missionary
Music played a leading role in the mission of the Orthodox Church in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A leading figure was Paul Zaichenko, choir director at Saint Mary's in Minneapolis from 1891-1903. Zaichenko served as an ambassador to the American public, presenting the beauty of the Orthodox Church in a way that was approachable and engaging. This lecture explores Zaichenko's life and work: in San Francisco, then in Minneapolis and later, in Ansonia and Chicago. His marriage at Saint Mary's, the birth and progress of his two sons, and his development as a teacher, pianist, and composer will also be discussed. This is fascinating period in the life of the Church and inspiration for our present mission.
As Managing Editor of STM Press, Fr Mikel directs the collaboration between editors, contributors, and production of texts. In addition, he serves as Editor for non-liturgical publications, typesets all STM publications, and designs their covers. Father Mikel is active as a priest, choir director, composer, and has singer with PaTRAM, the Saint Tikhon Choir, and Artefact Ensemble. He is also a scholar of late 19th and early 20th century sacred music in the United States. on which subject he is active as a writer and speaker. He lives at the monastery with his wife, Rachel—who works as a bookkeeper for the monastery—and their five children.
