DAZZLING DARKNESS

Allehelgen i Eliaskirken - på engelsk

Church service in the glow of candlelight with vocal group NOOR and readings.

There are times when sadness and powerlessness fill everything, and we feel that all is dark and there is nothing to do but surrender to it. It feels as though we are standing at an abyss in our lives. It is then that we can come to a dazzling realisation: the darkness has its own resonance. Where I cannot see a way forward, there is a light of the soul that allows the darkness to be dark and the sorrow to be sorrow – so that life can be life, with all that it holds.

This evening, the church will be filled with choral singing and readings in the glow of candlelight. The readings will include literary and poetic texts drawn from the Bible and world literature. Through words that speak of the dark night of the soul, they explore the depths of human sorrow, vulnerability and powerlessness, and the possibility of finding light and meaning within the darkness.

Vocal group NOOR is a professional mixed-voice a cappella ensemble based in Copenhagen. The group brings together traditional folk singing from around the world in a ritualistic and intimate concert experience.

The service is led by Pastor Maria Fihl.

Afterwards, there will be an opportunity to light your own candle at the light globe, and Pastor Maria Fihl will be available for conversations in English. 

About NOOR
NOOR explores polyphonic folk singing from traditions such as those of Georgia, Corsica, Ukraine, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. The songs have often been passed down from generation to generation, and the group adds its own distinctive NOOR sound – a blend of raw beauty and ritualistic expression, in which the voice stands alone while simultaneously creating a sense of community.

NOOR is led by Nini Julia Bang, a singer, composer and artistic director who trained at the Danish National Academy of Music in Odense and the Malmö Academy of Music, specialising in folk and world singing.