Victor Alexandrovich Pokrovsky was choir director, translator, and music arranger for Metropolitan
Sergius (Tikhomirov) of Japan, serving in that position at the
Holy Resurrection Cathedral (Tokyo, Japan) from 1924 until 1962, except for the World War II years and some of the decade following the war. He followed in the tradition of Russian
missionaries of bringing the
Gospel to new people in their language. In Japan, he followed in the tradition of Ss.
Innocent of Moscow and
Nicholas of Japan and of Nicholas's successor Sergius. In regard to liturgical music of the Japanese Orthodox Church, Victor Pokrovsky was to Sergius as
Yakov Tikhai was to St. Nicholas. Victor's success was bringing the Russian liturgical music masters to the Japanese in their own language. Metr. Sergius invited Victor, an emigré of the Russian civil war, to Tokyo to introduce to the
Japanese Church the
Russian liturgical masterpieces of 19th and 20th century, in Japanese. Their association and close collaboration continued until events associated with World War II brought it to an end.
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