Advent & Christmas at the Cathedral

Christ Church Cathedral is pleased to announce its lineup of services and concerts for the holiday season. Advent, a season of preparation before Christmas, begins on Sunday, November 27 this year, and the cathedral is delighted to bring back the beloved Advent Procession. This service of choral music sung by the cathedral’s excellent choir has been, for many Victorians, the unofficial start of the festive season.

The season continues with choral concerts in collaboration with the University of Victoria and Early Music Vancouver, as well as a chance for anybody to come and try singing Handel’s Messiah “from scratch” accompanied by a professional instrumental ensemble and alongside the Cathedral Choir. Director of Music, Donald Hunt, says, “this was a new event for us last year and people had so much fun that we couldn’t not repeat it.”

On Sunday, December 18th, we present our traditional service of lessons and carols for Christmas. A seasonal staple, the festival of Lessons and Carols has been celebrated at Anglican churches and cathedrals for well over 100 years. The highlight this year is a newly commissioned arrangement of the Ukrainian traditional “Carol of the Bells” by Polish Canadian composer Robert Busiakiewicz.

On Christmas Eve, there will be a family-friendly service at 4.30pm. The congregation will hear readings from the Christmas story and sing some favourite carols, followed by our traditional choral service at 10.00pm. All are welcome to receive communion at either service. Please note that incense will be used at the 10.00pm service.

The official end of the Christmas season is the day called “Epiphany,” twelve days after Christmas, when the three Wise Men arrive. In addition to a service on the day, we’ll mark this celebration with a special concert by world-renowned tenor Benjamin Butterfield alongside pianists Stephen Ralls and Bruce Ubukata.

“As the Anglican cathedral that serves this city, it’s important that we open our doors wide this season,” says the Reverend Canon Jeannine Friesen, Priest in Charge of the cathedral. “I can’t wait to welcome back those who have had their holiday traditions interrupted by Covid and to greet new faces who may be curious about what we have to offer to the community. I know many people are expecting a celebration, and that’s what we’ll be giving them!”

Advent to Epiphany at Christ Church Cathedral
Full listing of concerts and services

Sunday, November 27 / 4.00 p.m.
The Advent Procession
We enter a darkened cathedral. We hear again that ancient message of the coming of the Saviour through readings, choral motets, and hymns, illustrating the world’s continuous movement from desolation to consolation. Comfort ye, comfort ye my people… Over the course of this 90-minute service, the candles are gradually lit and the cathedral is bathed in the glow of the light, and that light is the Saviour of the World.
In-person and online.
Freewill offering.

Saturday, December 3 / 3.30 p.m.
UVic Choirs Concert
Save the date for the University of Victoria School of Music’s annual musical kick-off to the holiday season. 
In-person.
Admission by donation.

Saturday, December 10 / 2.00 - 5.00 p.m.
Messiah from Scratch: A singalong benefit for our young choral singers
Now’s your chance to lift your voice in song, as we present the ever-popular “Messiah from Scratch!” Come join a team of some of Victoria’s best singers and instrumentalists and add your voice to the stirring choruses of Handel’s iconic masterpiece. “Messiah from Scratch!” distills Handel’s joyful Easter masterpiece to its Christmas essentials for maximum feel-goodery: Angels, shepherds abiding in their fields, exalted valleys, a Saviour born and, of course... a Hallelujah Chorus. In-person only. Proceeds will support the Cathedral Choirs’ 2023 tour to the UK.
In-person.
Tickets: $20 (regular) $50 (supporter – with $30 tax receipt), $10 (student)
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/435781543327

Friday, December 16 / 7.30 p.m.
EMV Pacific Baroque Series: Festive Cantatas (Bach’s Magnificat)
Vancouver’s Pacific Baroque Orchestra is joined by three natural trumpets, as many baroque oboes, and a stellar cast of singers, under the inspired direction of Alexander Weimann to sing Bach’s famous Magnificat. Presented in partnership with EMV.
In-person.
Tickets: $45 / $10 students  https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/372357781147

Sunday, December 18 / 4.00 p.m.
Christmas Lessons and Carols
A seasonal staple, the festival of lessons and carols has been celebrated at Anglican churches and cathedrals for well over 100 years. The highlight this year is a newly commissioned arrangement of the Ukrainian traditional “Carol of the Bells” by Polish Canadian composer Robert Busiakiewicz.
In-person and online.
Freewill offering.
This service will be rebroadcast on CHEK TV at 7.00pm. Please take your seats by 3.45pm.

Friday, December 23 / 7.30 p.m.
CapriCCio Vocal Ensemble presents “Christmas in Versailles”
For the Christmas concert (The “Night Before the Night Before” on December 23rd) the main work will be Marc Charpentier’s Messe de Minuit pour Noel. This lovely work will be combined with our traditional selection of carols.
In person.
Information & Tickets: https://capriccio.ca/season-2022-23/

Saturday, December 24 / 4.30 p.m.
Carols around the Crib: A family Eucharist for Christmas Eve
Cattle lowing, shepherds keeping watch, angels singing Gloria in excelsis, and if you look up, a star! This celebration of the Eucharist is the perfect way to mark Christmas Eve with restless family members.
In-person.

Saturday, December 24 / 10.00 p.m.
Procession & Solemn Eucharist of the Nativity (Christmas Eve)
The essence of Christmas is the story of God coming to the world in the form of a lowly child to save us – “the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” In the first Eucharist of Christmas, we celebrate the coming of that Saviour in bread and wine. Expect inspirational preaching, beautiful music sung by the Cathedral Choir, and a chance to sing your favorite carols.
In-person and online. 
Freewill offering.
Incense will be used.

Sunday, December 25 / 10.30 a.m.
Christmas Day: Cathedral Eucharist
In the light of the morning, we come together over a ceremonial meal to mark the coming of Jesus Christ, the “Light of the World.”
In-person and online.
Freewill offering.

Please note there will be no 8.00 a.m. Said Eucharist or 4.00 p.m. Choral Evensong today.

The Cathedral will be closed on Monday, December 26. Daily services resume Tuesday, December 27. The Offices will be closed Saturday, December 24 to Monday, January 2.

Sunday, January 1
The Naming of Jesus: Service Times
8.00 a.m. Said Eucharist
10.30 a.m. Cathedral Eucharist
4.00 p.m. Choral Evensong

Sunday, January 1 / 2.45pm
Old Music for the New Year: A Neapolitan Baroque Celebration
Violinist Marc Destrubé brings together vocalists Nathan MacDonald, Adam Dyjach, Cassidy Stahr, and Isolde Welby for a 60-minute free concert of music by Nicola Porpora, Francesco Durante, and Alessandro Scarlatti. Presented in partnership with the Pacific Baroque Festival. Our usual Sunday service of Choral Evensong follows this concert at 4.00pm.
Admission by donation. 
In-person and online.

Friday, January 6 / 7.00 p.m.
Epiphany: Solemn Eucharist
In-person and online. 
Freewill offering.
Incense will be used.

Saturday, January 7 / 7.30 p.m.
Wise Guys: Britten’s Journey of the Magi
On the day after Epiphany, Toronto’s wise men of the piano (Bruce Ubukata and Stephen Ralls) will be following their star westward to Christ Church Cathedral. Maybe it’s the favourable Island climate at Christmastime or perhaps it’s just the gravitational pull of Victoria’s star tenor Benjamin Butterfield. Either way, they’ll be joined by other special guests for a performance of Benjamin Britten’s “Journey of the Magi” and other works. Gold, frankincense and myrrh are not their only gifts, for this all-star team brings an intimate knowledge and love of the repertoire, as well as an inimitably engaging delivery. Proceeds will support the Cathedral Choirs’ 2023 tour to the UK.
In-person.
Tickets: $25 (regular) $50 (supporter – with $25 tax receipt), $10 (student)
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/468576453787