On Holy Tuesday, 07 April 2026, at 22:00 (Athens time), Voice of Greece presents a special Holy Week edition of “Sound Portraits”, curated and hosted by Stavroula Karali, exploring the profound unity of theology, poetry, and music.
Tracing the arc of Holy Week—from Holy Monday to the culmination of the Divine Drama, the Passion, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection—the program weaves together Byzantine hymnography with contemporary musical interpretations, forming a deeply moving sonic journey.
The broadcast opens with Eleni Vitali performing “Bless the Lord, O My Soul,” set to music by Stamatis Spanoudakis. Narration by Katerina Lechou, alongside the voice of Sophia Manou, leads into “Behold, the Bridegroom Comes.” The figure of the Virgin Mary emerges through Irene Papas in the hymn “The Beauty of Your Virginity.”
Iro Saia offers a poignant interpretation of the “Hymn of Kassiani,” while Irene Papas returns with “I Behold Your Bridal Chamber,” underscoring the call to spiritual vigilance.
The passage into the dramatic core unfolds with Alkinoos Ioannidis’ “Holy Thursday.” Sophia Manou, in the deeply affecting “Today He Is Hung Upon the Tree,” conveys—with restraint and intensity—the loneliness, betrayal, and abandonment of the Passion. The maternal lament finds expression in Kostas Varnalis’ iconic poem “The Sorrows of the Virgin,” performed by Nikos Xylouris.
The mourning reaches its peak with “O Sweet Springtime,” in the distinctive orchestration of Vangelis Papathanassiou and the voice of Irene Papas. The journey then moves into the silence of the Tomb, where Manolis Mitsias and Nikos Xylouris perform “Life Lies in the Tomb”—and within that silence, the first glimmers of light begin to emerge.
The program culminates in a passage from lamentation to glorification: “Axion Esti,” performed by Petros Gaitanos, and “Christ Is Risen,” sung by Giorgos Dalaras with music by Stavros Kougioumtzis, marking the transition from death to life.
Presented and curated by Stavroula Karali
Sound editing: Efi Georgopoulou
Broadcast: Holy Tuesday, 07 April 2026, 22:00-23:00 Athens time
