The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson

Orthodox iconography, Rothko, sacred art, and the problem of propaganda in beauty—this second interview with Fr. Silouan Justiniano takes us deep into the intersection of faith, modern art, and the revival of Christian tradition. From Mark Rothko’s sublime color fields to the Byzantine legacy of iconography, Fr. Silouan explores how authentic art transcends ideology and points toward the divine, w...

Will beauty really save the world—or have we misunderstood what that phrase truly means? In this in-depth interview, Fr. Silouan Justiniano joins The Pursuit of Beauty Podcast to tackle some of the most pressing questions about beauty, sublimity, iconography, and Christian art. From Dostoevsky’s famous line to the challenges of modern aesthetics, this conversation digs into what beauty actually is...

Join us for an in-depth conversation with Chris Hoyt, composer and church musician, as we explore the rich tradition of Anglican church music and the ongoing debate between traditional and contemporary worship styles. This comprehensive discussion covers everything from organ repertoire to hymn arrangements, making it essential viewing for church musicians, worship leaders, and anyone interested i...

Discover the fascinating world of Anglican hymnody, sacred music composition, and church tradition in this in-depth interview with composer, organist, and hymnal editor Chris Hoyt. As the lead editor of the Book of Common Praise 2017—the official hymnal of the Reformed Episcopal Church—Chris shares the story behind creating a modern hymnal that bridges ancient liturgical traditions with contempora...

Chapters02:48 Interview begins - The Smuggling20:10 The Mission of Musica Russica26:41 Steinberg Passion Week32:14 The Legacy of Choral Music: A Call to Action39:22 Need for Sacred Music Programs and Conservatories46:59 Unknown Masters of Russian Choral Music55:23 Modern Composers57:40 Tchaikovsky and the Evolution of Liturgical Music01:06:18 Understanding Chant Traditions01:14:55 The Future of Or...

Discover the fascinating world of Baroque organ improvisation with Dutch master Sietze de Vries, who can spontaneously create 45-minute fugal treatments in the style of Bach and Buxtehude. In this captivating conversation, Sietze reveals how he developed his extraordinary improvisational abilities by learning music as a "native language" from childhood, rather than starting with written notation....

In this conversation with renowned Georgian Orthodox chant expert Dr. John Graham, we discuss the origins, history, and preservation of Georgia’s ancient three-part polyphonic sacred music. Dr. Graham—widely regarded as the foremost English-speaking authority on Georgian Orthodox liturgical chant—explores the early development of this musical tradition, from the creation of the Georgian alphabet a...

In this never-before-seen interview, Jonathan Pageau sits down with organist and arranger Matthew Wilkinson, long-time friend of The Symbolic World and the musician behind its theme, to explore the profound symbolism, theology, and cosmic patterns embedded in the music of J.S. Bach. Matthew shares the inspiration and recording process for his new album of Bach’s Clavierübung III (the “Organ Mass”)...

In this fascinating deep dive into Ethiopian Orthodox chant and theology, Deacon Henok offers a rare insider's view of the Tewahedo tradition—an ancient Afro-Asiatic form of Christianity with rich liturgical practices, poetic chant, and distinctive theology. Host Matthew Wilkinson and Deacon Henok explore everything from the structure of the Ethiopian liturgy and the use of sacred instruments...

In this rich and wide-ranging interview, scholar and publisher Vlad Morosan (founder of Musica Russica) unpacks the fascinating history of Russian Orthodox chant, from its Byzantine roots to the polyphonic masterpieces of composers like Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff. He traces the evolution of Znamenny chant, Kievan and Obikhod traditions, and explores the liturgical reforms that sparked the Old Be...

In this deep and engaging interview, filmmaker Josh David Jordan joins Matthew Wilkinson to explore the inspiration, philosophy, and cinematic influences behind his latest project, El Tonto Por Cristo. From Tarkovsky’s meditative pacing to the spiritual starkness of Robert Bresson, Jordan opens up about his creative process, the challenges of low-budget filmmaking, and the delicate balance between...

What makes Carpatho-Russian (Carpatho-Rusyn) Orthodox chant so unique—and so powerfully congregational? In this in-depth conversation, Fr. Nicholas Mihaly explores the distinct features of Carpatho-Rusyn plainchant (Prostopinije), a living tradition rooted in the Carpathian Mountains and shaped by the faith and memory of its people. Unlike composed liturgical music often sung by choirs, Prostopini...

In this wide-ranging conversation, JP Marceau discusses his intellectual journey from materialism to a non-reductive naturalist worldview that integrates science, philosophy, and Christian theology. Drawing from his experience studying philosophy alongside thinkers like Jonathan Pageau and John Vervaeke, Marceau critiques the limits of materialist reductionism and explains how modern cognitive sci...

In this in-depth conversation, Matthew Wilkinson speaks with Alexander Hatcher about the distinctive musical and theological heritage of the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church. Hatcher shares how liturgical music in this tradition is shaped by rhythmic and melodic diversity, seasonal variation, and cultural influence—particularly the contrasting styles found in India and the Middle East. The discuss...

In this rich and illuminating conversation, Deacon Rubik Mailian offers a rare glimpse into the profound musical and spiritual heritage of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church. He explains the unique categories of Armenian chant—from the simple Gospel intonations and Psalm tones to the deeply melismatic Sharakaner (hymns) and treasured solo works like Sirde Sasani. Deacon Rubik shares how these...

In this insightful interview, German organ improviser and cathedral cantor Julian Beutmiller discusses his extensive training in church music, organ improvisation techniques, and the unique German approach to educating church musicians. Julian explains the rigorous curriculum involved in earning a church music degree in Germany, highlighting the necessity of proficiency in multiple instruments, co...

Seraphim is one of the most important iconographers in the Western World today. Greatly Inspired by Ouspensky and Gregory Kroug, he eschews formalism, and seeks to provide an encounter with God through the use of color and line. We discuss a wide variety of topics, including his experience living in a monstery, getting married, living in Georgia, falling off a cliff, painting landscapes, getting s...

We discuss the beauty of this ancient chant from the Malankaran Church in India, which follows West Syriac rites and is attached to the Patriarch of Antioch of the Syriac Orthodox Church, an Oriental Orthodox Church.

In this conversation, Matthew Wilkinson and Tom Podhrazsky explore the intersections of cultural heritage, architecture, and design. Tom shares his family's immigration story from the Czech Republic and how it has shaped his identity and work ethic. He discusses his passion for historical architecture, particularly 18th-century design, and the collaborative process involved in creating unique spac...

Swiss organist Christoph Maria Moosmann records a work that has hardly ever been recorded. Moreso, up until now, the technology did not exist to help render the ideal performance of this music as it was written. L'Orgue Mystique is 51 parts, and would fill up roughly 26 CDs worth of music. The music is highly mystical, spiritual, technical and moving.

John Michael Boyer, associate director of Capella Romana, is probably the foremost expert on Byzantine chant in the English-speaking world. We spoke about the various music sung in Greek Orthodox churches across the United States, Bulgarian chant, Arabic chant, Romanian chant, Georgian chant, Znameny chant, ornamentation, ancient medieval manuscripts, Capella Romana, temperaments, tuning systems,...

I speak with Dr. Karim Hanna, who in addition to being a medical doctor is also a deacon in the Coptic Orthodox Church, and a teacher of Coptic chant. We talk about his Church and the specificities of their musical tradition.

Andrew Gould, who is pioneering the traditional building arts in Orthodox Architecture in North America, brings insights to colonial arcthietcture, brutalism, Gothic, Romanesque, Baroque, chant, Orthodoxy and more.

from my discussion with Andrew Dittman about creating his Kyrial and churchmusic in general. . In his setting Gregorian chants in English with four part harmony to be sung a capella and writing motets for Anglican church services he has developed his own personal compositional style that is both atavistic and progressive. Through his Kyrial he seeks to preserve well known plainsong chant masses, w...

Elias Rehmet is an Orthodox musician who lived in an Elder Ephraim monastery for five years. We talk about fasting, asceticism, Orthodox chant, music, and life in a monastery.