An Oxford choir has recorded a Ukrainian hymn as prayer of hope following a week of ‘horror’ in the country.

The Oxford Girls’ Choir recorded the hymn on March 5 at the end of their Saturday rehearsal and posted the video on YouTube.

After one week the video has received thousands of views.

Oxford Mail:

The hymn, ‘Great and Almighty Lord’ is based on Mykola Lysenko's original 1885 composition for children's choir.

It was arranged and directed by Oxford Youth Choirs director Richard Vendome, accompanied by Will Harmer. 

Mr Vendome said the children were moved by singing the emotional piece.

Read also: Fundraised money for Ukraine crisis stolen from St Nicholas Orthodox Church in Oxford

He said: “We have got lots of young kids from academic families, many of whom are eastern European or Russian, and it occurred to me that we couldn’t not do it.”

Although the choir does sing in various languages the hymn was recorded in English.

Oxford Mail:

The choir director said the singers only spent 15 to 20 minutes practicing the hymn before recording it and posting it online and it now has more than 3,000 views.

He added: “I am very pleased, 3,000 views is pretty good.”

Oxford Girls’ Choir is part of Oxford Youth Choirs - a group of choirs for girls and boys aged 0-18. Rehearsals are held on Saturdays in term time at The Cherwell School, Oxford. 

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