Leading the Fredericksburg Church of Christ congregation in song, Konstantin Zhigulin (second from right) teaches his Psalm-based original worship music to churches across the United States and Russia. Singing with Zhigulin are Lina Zhigulin, Sasha Bekrenova, and Jeff Matteson. Photo by Phil Houseal

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Psalom

by Phil Houseal
Jan 13, 2010

For 500 years, the hymns of Martin Luther have been good enough for worship services in western religions. How many of us grew up singing A Mighty Fortress?

But lately churches have turned to generic “praise” music in an attempt to appeal to a more contemporary audience. When our TV went digital, we began receiving a new worship channel that conveys this generic approach to religion - scenes of snowy mountains, gurgling waterfalls, and majestic forests set to songs of praise with vague references to glory and spirit. It’s like viewing a travel agency’s idea of heaven.

Along comes a young man from Russia, who is trying to bring back music of substance and passion to the church.

Konstantin Zhigulin has spent 15 years setting Psalms to original music. The native of Siberia travels through the United States with his quartet Psalom, stopping at churches and universities to share his music.

“Our mission is to compose new songs for church that are based on the scripture,” Zhigulin explained. “A lot of our songs are based on Psalms. The name of our group - Psalom - means Psalms in Russian.”

I heard the group one recent Sunday morning singing four-part a cappella harmonies after the regular service at the Church of Christ. Members Zhigulin, wife Lina, Sasha Bekrenova, and Jeff Matteson were teaching the hymns to members of the congregation. After a break, I cornered Zhigulin, who reluctantly assented to answer my questions. The hesitation was more about the language barrier than any reticence to discuss the state of faith in today’s Russia. He put me straight about that.

“It is a hard question for sure,” he said. “We have some misunderstanding about religion, because some try to push the Orthodox church as the main official religion. But it is not, because our government is in the constitution as secular. We can practice religion in Russia with no problem ... yet.”

I wanted to know what drives him to come up with new music. He tried to explain his motivation, but first I had to learn about his background. He studied classical piano and flute as a child in Russia, and as a teenager started a band. At 18, he was saved, and began worshipping at a mission church in Russia.

“This church had a lot of songs translated from English to Russian,” he said. “It was good for beginning, but not very good.” So Zhigulin started to write his own music, which the church members preferred to sing. “Songs in original Russian are always better than a translation.”

People began to become interested in helping Zhigulin spread his ministry of music. He completed studies in St. Petersburg at the Institute of Theology and Christian Ministry. There, he came to understand that the Psalms were the best words he could find in Scripture for singing.

According to bass singer Matteson, Zhigulin is a very sensitive person who can write music to help heal people’s wounds and sorrows. “That also fits Psalms, because they are about sorrow and pain.”

Zhigulin laughed. “I understand that maybe the Psalms are the best we can find in scripture for singing. I guess Luther thought the same way, so we are back to Luther.”

The group now travels about six weeks every year, visiting Churches of Christ for Sunday and Wednesday services, fitting concerts in between. The response has been gratifying.

“We hear comments such as ‘it was like hearing angels’ and ‘it’s wonderful’ and ‘thank you so much for singing God’s love in the music,’” said Matteson.

Zhigulin agreed. “For sure, that emotion and joy is always good. But like we say in Russia, it is the joy with the tear on your cheek. Of course we have the joy, but we always remember why we have it - that is the love of Christ.”

The songs are beautiful, too.