The organizer of the International Festival of Orthodox Church Music “Hajnówka” is the “Orthodox Church Music” Foundation in Hajnówka.

We held the Festival annually ever since 1982. 647 choirs from 35 countries from Europe, Asia, North America and Africa have participated in the Festival so far. There were choirs from Armenia, Belgium, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, India, Israel, Serbia and Montenegro, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Lithuania, Latvia, Macedonia, Moldova, Germany, Poland, Russia, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, Sweden, Ukraine, the USA.

The aim of the International Festival of Orthodox Church Music “Hajnówka” is to present the great artistic and spiritual values of Orthodox Church music. Its program creates also the opportunity for discussion, meetings, exchanges of experiences and making of new relationships among the participants from different environments – and thus, it is equally enriched by the aesthetic and educational objectives.

So far the Festival has taken place under the Patronage of the President of Poland as well as the Patronage of the Polish Ministry of Culture and, since 2003, under the Artistic Patronage of prof. K. Penderecki.

Among the members of the jury of the previous Festivals, one would find such names as: prof. R. Twardowski, W. Bielecka, M. Erigina, prof. Cz. Freund, prof. K. Górski, prof. R. Grucza, prof. S. Krukowski, prof. E. Kulikowski, rev. dr M. Lenczewski, prof. J. Łukaszewski, prof. B. Sawicka, rev. J. Szurbak, J. Zawisza(Poland), prof. L. Jefimowa, prof. W. Rowdo, O. Janum (Belarus), prof. D. Dymitrow, rev. A. Łaszkow, W. Nikołow (Bulgaria), dr D. Oikonomou, G. Picardo (England), prof. N. Ossorguin (France), A. Brandaws(Latvia), prof. P. Gylis (Lithuania), prof. W. Bołdurat (Moldova), prof. A. Kożewnikow, rev. Nikifor, prof. I. Rajewski, prof. B. Tewlin, prof. B. Sieliwanow (Russia), dr A. Derevjanikowa (Slovakia), P. Vitovec(Switzerland), I. Cyklińskij, prof. Ł. Diczko, M. Gobdycz, Archbishop Ionafan (Ukraine), and other experts in choral and orthodox church music.

Among the award winners of the Festival are:

1. Amateur choirs: 

Parish Choirs: 

Choirs: “Saghmos” from Erevan (Armenia), Lahovichi, of Church of the Icon of the Mother of God „Joy of all in sorrow” from Minsk, Minsk Theological Seminary from Zhirovichy (Belarus), of the Church St. Petka from Plovdiv (Bulgaria), Kykkos Monastery Choir (Cyprus), Coptic from Cairo (Egypt), Tallin (Estonia), Oulu, Tampere (Finland), of the Church of St. Panteleimon from Tbilisi (Georgia), Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Choir of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Berlin (Germany), “Zumoro” Theological Seminary from Kottayam-Kerala(India), „Mokranjac” from Belgrade (Yugoslavia), “St. Zlata Maglenska”, “St. Kliment Ohridski” from Skopje(Macedonia), of the Monastery of St. Martyr Teodor “Tiron” from Chisinau (Moldova), Białowieża, Fasty, Narewka, Priests of the Orthodox Białystok-Gdańsk Diocese, The Cathedral “Carmen” from Białystok, Orthodox Institute of Psalmists from Hajnówka, Christian Academy of Theology from Warsaw, Lublin, Sanok, Wrocław, Zabłudów(Poland), Kondopoga, Sviblov, Orthodox Church Clergy Academy from Sankt Petersburg, The Schools of Orthodox Church Chant of Kruticky Patriarch „Podworja”, of Novospassky Monastery from Moscow, Church Choir from Nizhnij Novgorod, Female Choir from Novgorod, (Russia), of Orthodox Theology Faculty of The University from Iassi (Romania), Jarabina, of Orthodox Theology Faculty of The University from Presov (Slovakia), “St Sofia” Stockholm (Sweden), Choir from Kijewo – Pieczerska Ławra, Youth Choir “O czudiesie” Orthodox Church St. Nicholas from Kiev of Svyatopokrovsky Monastery from Kharkov, Moshna, Children Cathedral from Winnica (Ukraine), Belgrade (Yugoslavia),

– Secular Amateur Choirs: 

„Molitva” from Roosdaal (Belgium), Youth “Dietstwo” from Borysow, “Raduga” from Baranovichi, Railway Cultural Centre from Brest, Academy from Gomel, Trade Union Cultural Centre ,“Ranica” and “Cantus Juventae” from Minsk, Chamber from Novopolatsk, Children “Cantere” from Orsza (Belarus), Male Choral Ensemble „Dariali” from Tibilisi (Georgia), Women’s “Na’ama” form Givat Ada (Israel), Jouth Chamber “Accolada” from Riga (Latvia), Female “Rustiko” from Studio Skopje (Macedonia), “Gloria” Republikan College of Music “St. Niaga”, “Lira” State University Moldavia from Kishiniev, (Moldova); Medical Academy, Academic of the University, Politechnical Institute from Bialystok, Chamber from Bydgoszcz, Częstochowa Politechnical Institute, Medical Academy, Chamber University from Gdańsk, Academic from Śląsk Politechnical Institute from Gliwice, of the Theological Academy from Krakow, of the Catholic University of Lublin, “Bel Canto” from Olsztyn, “Capella Musicae Antique Orientalis” from Poznań, The “Zofia Kurowska” Chamber from Słupsk, The Inter University Academic of Warsaw, Warsaw University from Warsaw, “Cansonanza”, “Cantilena”, “Gaudium”, Politechnical Institute Miners’ from Wrocław (Poland), Academic State of the University from Omsk (Russia), Academic “Collegium Musicum” from Belgrad (Serbia and Montenegro), Capella Russian Male Chorus from New York, “Romeiko” from Philadelphia (USA), “Widrodzennia” from Kriwyj Rih, “Orfeusz”, Lecturers’ from the State Musical Secondary School from Lviv, “Szkolnyje Gody” from Simferopol, Politechnical Institute from Kijow, Zolotonosha (Ukraine), Student Choir „Cantus Juventae” Linguistic State University, Chamber Choir “Salutaris” from Minsk (Belarus), Female Chorus „Lira” State University of Moldova Chisinau (Moldova)

– Children’s Choirs: 

The Children’s Choir of Lithuania Radio and TV from Vilnius (Lithuania), State Conservatory in Rostov(Russia), “Wohnyk” Palace of Children and Youth in Kiev (Ukraine).

2. Music Academies Choirs: 

„Elegia” from Minsk (Belarus), “Schola Cantorum Budapestiensis from Budapest (Hungary).„Renaissance” of Music Academy from Kiszyniów (Moldova), Conservatory Students, Female Choir of the National College of Music N. A. Rimsky – Korsakov from St. Petersburg (Russia), Choir “Collegium Musicum” National University of Arts in Belgrade (Serbia)

3. Professional Choirs: 

“Ter-Oganisjan” from Yerevan (Armenia), Chamber from Grodno, State Philharmonic from Gomel, State Broadcastings and Television from Belarus, State “G. Shirma”, Music Academy, The Orthodox Church Brotherhood named after “Archstrategist Michael”, and Female “Elegia”, “Radziwiłły”, “Cantemus” from Minsk(Belarus), “Ivan Spasov” and “Filopopolis” from Plovdiv, “Alleluia”, “Joan Kukuzel-Angeloglasniat” from Sofia(Bulgaria), “Male National” of Estonia from Tallinn (Estonia), “Kiedrowa Ensample” from Paris (France), “Orovela” from Tibilisi (Georgia), “St. Ephraim” Byzantine Male Ensemble from Budapest (Hungary), “Eufone” (Italy), The National Chamber Theatre of Opera and Ballet from Astana (Kazakhstan), Orthodox Church Music from Riga (Latvia), “Aukuras” from Klajpeda, “Brevis” and “Vilnius” from Vilnius (Lithuania), Mixed of the Academy of Music, Theatre and Fines Arts, and Female “Renesans” and “Credo”, “Gavriil Musicescu” from Chisinau, Chamber of the National Philharmonic of the Republic (Moldova), Polish Broadcastings and Television Choir from Kraków, Ensemble of Orthodox Church Music of Warsaw’s Chamber Opera, Male Ensemble of Rev. J. Szurbak from Warsaw (Poland), Chamber from Kaluga, Chamber of the Moscow State Conservatory named after P. Tchaikovsky, State Academic “Russian Choir of A. W. Svieshnikov”, “Russian Academic Choir”, “Kozevnikov”, “The State Academic Capella Choir of Russia A. Jurlowa”, „Vivat” “Drevnierusski raspew” from Moscow, “Niżnij Novgorod”, “Ural State Chamber” from Perm, Male “Svietilen” from Starocherkask Monastery from Rostov, State Capella “M. Glinki” from St Petersburg, “Saratov Theatre of Choral Music” from Saratov, “Rachmaninov Chamber” from Tambow, “Capella of the University” from Tomsk (Russia), “Corala Patriarhei Romane” from Bucharest (Romania), Dnietropietrowsk Philharmonic, “Legenda” from Drohobych, Chamber „Kiev”, and “Credo”, “Krieshtchatik”, Men’s Choir Kiev Band L. Rewuckiego from Kiev, “Oranta” from Luck, “Oreya” from Zhitomir, “Tawriczeskij Błagowiest” from Symferopol (Ukraine).