Armenian church music: sharakans, the Divine Liturgy and "Der Voghormia"
Armenia adopted Christianity in 301 AD [2], and its church has sung in its own language since the alphabet was made. Here is what that music is and which recordings to start with.
By The Armenly team. Written November 11, 2026.
- About The Armenly team — The people who build and check the Armenly catalog of Armenian music.
Key findings
- Armenian chant, sharakan (շարական), is the single-line, richly ornamented chant of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It uses a system of eight modes [1].
- The first Armenian hymns were written in the 5th century by St. Mesrop Mashtots, who also created the Armenian alphabet. He is credited with 129 and Catholicos Sahak Partev with 60 [1].
- The Sharaknots, the Armenian hymnal compiled in the 1300s and early 1400s, holds about 1,116 hymns [1].
- The main service of the Armenian Church is the Divine Liturgy, the Badarak (Patarag). Komitas arranged it for the Armenian Apostolic Church [2].
What a sharakan is
Sharakans are sung in one melodic line, with many notes stretched over a single syllable, in classical Armenian, grabar, which today is used almost only in church [1]. Mashtots and Catholicos Partev wrote the first ones, often drawing on older Armenian melodies [1]. Later hymns, including St. Nerses Shnorhali's, were added to the Sharaknots, and the largest collection of its manuscripts is in the Matenadaran in Yerevan [1].
From the 8th century the hymns were written in neumes called khaz, signs above the words. By the 16th and 17th centuries nobody could read them anymore. A new notation came in the 19th century, and Komitas spent years trying to decode the old one before the Genocide ended his work [1].
- Khorhurd khorin - Deep mystery, eternal mystery. It is beyond my comprehension; it is infinite and profound, and adorns Heaven with Your glory — Sharakan Early Music Ensemble — "Deep mystery"
- Khorhurd khorin — Khachatur Taronatsi, "Zark" Male Choir — the same hymn, sung by men
- 2 Repentance Sharakans (Live) — Geghard Ensemble, Anahit Papayan
The Divine Liturgy (Badarak)
The congregation stands to sing "Hayr Mer," the Lord's Prayer, from Komitas's arrangement of the Divine Liturgy. "Der Voghormia" ("Lord, have mercy") is sung while the clergy prepare communion, and it is also sung at remembrances of the victims of the 1915 Genocide [2].
- Der voghormia — R.P. Komitas, Choeur Sipan-Komitas — about 363,000 plays
- Hayr Mer (Lord's Prayer) — Varanda Youth Choir of Shushi
- Divine Liturgy (Arr. for Mixed Choir by Vache Sharafyan): Sanctus — Komitas, Latvian Radio Choir — Komitas's liturgy, about 144,000 plays
- Divine Liturgy (Arr. for Mixed Choir by Vache Sharafyan): Lord, Have Mercy — Komitas, Latvian Radio Choir
- Sourp, Sourp (Magar Yegmalian) - Remastered — Lusine Zakaryan — Holy, Holy, in Makar Yekmalian's setting
- Christos badarakial — R.P. Komitas, Choeur Sipan-Komitas — "Christ is sacrificed"
Outside the church
The hymns are sung in concert too. Serj Tankian has sung "Der Voghormia" live, and duduk players record the Badarak melodies.
- Der Voghormia - Live — Serj Tankian, Azam Ali — about 151,000 plays
- Hayr Mer (Our Father) — The National Duduk Ensemble of Armenia — on duduk
- Surb Surb — Djivan Gasparyan — on duduk
Questions people ask
What is a sharakan?
A hymn of the Armenian Church: single-line, ornamented chant in classical Armenian. The hymnal, the Sharaknots, has about 1,116 of them.
What does "Der Voghormia" mean?
"Lord, have mercy." It is sung during the Divine Liturgy as communion is prepared, and at Genocide remembrances.
What is the Badarak?
The Divine Liturgy, the main Sunday service of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Patarag is the Eastern Armenian spelling.
Who wrote the music for the Armenian Divine Liturgy?
The melodies are the church's own chant. Komitas arranged the Divine Liturgy, and recordings also credit settings by Makar Yekmalian.
Sources
- [1] Armenian chant — Wikipedia, read November 11, 2026
- [2] Spiritual Music of Armenia: A Living Religions Playlist — Smithsonian Folklife Festival, read November 11, 2026
Cite this page
The Armenly team, "Armenian church music: sharakans, the Divine Liturgy and "Der Voghormia"." Armenly, November 11, 2026. https://armenly.com/guides/armenian-church-music
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