22 January 2019 Songs by Vladimir Vysotsky Performed by a Priest 25 January, the National Library of the Komi Republic presents a guitar and poetry concert of writer and archpriest Mikhail Khodanov - I have a song to sing when I am gone.
The programme is composed of Vladimir Vysotsky's famous and less-known songs. As a singer-songwriter and actor, Vysotsky was an important figure on the Russian music scene. His career had an enduring effect on the Soviet and Russian culture. Although his work was ignored by the official Soviet cultural establishment, his fame and popularity reached enormous proportions in the 1970s. Political and social commentary, humour and authenticity of his lyrics, his inimitable singing style and personal charisma brought him to the iconic status.
Father Mikhail is the author of a book about Vysotsky, narrating the story of his short and turbulent life and giving a deep insight into his creative work. At the concert, he will present his own view of the artist's spiritual biography and perform his songs.
Having a striking resemblance with Vysotsky's appearance and tone of voice, Mikhail Khodanov gives regular concerts and takes part in music festivals in Russia and abroad. His firm belief is that Vysotsky opened and continues to open up a path to spiritual growth for millions of people.
The concert in Syktyvkar was negotiated and sponsored by the Board of Trustees of the National Library.
The concert starts at 17:00. Free entrance.
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Mikhail Khodanov was born in 1958 in Moscow. He has a degree in journalism from the Moscow State University and a degree in Arab studies and Arabic language which he completed at the University of Baghdad in 1980. He was ordained to become a priest of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1992 году. He served as information officer for patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Aleksy II. He also hosted a Christian TV programme, Menologion, on the central channel of the Russian State Broadcasting Company. A member of the Union of Russian Writers, he is the author of a number of fiction and non-fiction works dedicated to moral and intellectual issues. | 
