One of the distinctive features of Byzantine worship is that all services are chanted or sung without instrumental accompaniment. Yet the rubrics or instructions in the liturgical books often mention that bells are to be rung before, during, and after the divine services. These instructions are quite detailed both as to the exact times and the manner of ringing.

"The bells remain stationary and the clapper swings either in slow measured strokes or in rapid repeating rhythms. In order to meet these liturgical requirements, Bohdan Turetsky, who wrote many of the icons on the church’s iconostasis, has designed a charming bell tower in accordance with the traditional wooden architecture of Ukraine.

The tower has a 16 foot square base and is approximately 33 feet in height. Like the church, it was built with heavy timbers and sheathed in cedar siding. It will serve as an aural and visible beacon calling us to worship and glorify God, who has blessed us with an abundance of good gifts."

One hears bells often rung, but to experience them as an integral part of the Byzantine Liturgies or to have them suddenly reach deep into the soul and exalt the Spirit, is a phenomenon almost incredible were it not actually easy to experience. The effect is quite ineffable.

Bell Ringing Rubrics

There are different ways of ringing bells for different services and feasts:

1. Blahovest - literally meaning "Good News." This is the measured striking of one bell for the beginning of a service.
2. Zvon - literally meaning "Peal." This is the ringing of all bells.
3. Dvuzvon – literally meaning "Double Peal." This is the ringing of all bells then an interval of silence, followed by a second ringing of all bells. Simply put, this is the ringing of all bells twice.
4. Trezvon - literally meaning "Treble Peal." This is the ringing of all bells three times.
5. Perezvon - "Chain-peal." This is the striking of each bell several times beginning with the largest bell and proceeding to the smallest bell. This chain is repeated as long as necessary. This is used before any Blessing of Water.
6. Perebor - "Chain-toll." The slow striking of each bell once beginning from the largest bell and proceeding to the smallest bell. After the chain, all bells are rung together. This is repeated several times. This is also called burial or funeral ringing.

As one author put it: "On great feasts they remind us of heavenly blessedness; on Saints' days, they tell us of the unending rest of the holy dwellers in heaven; during Passion Week they remind us of our reconciliation with God through Christ the Saviour; "and during Bright Week they announce the victory of life over death and the eternal unending joy of the life to come in the Kingdom of Christ.

Announcing the glory of the name of Christ, ringing out both day and night mostly from above God's temples, the pealing of bells by itself reminds us of the words of Almighty God, spoken through the Prophet Isaiah (62: 6): I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, who shall never hold their peace day or night, (making) mention of the Lord.

The sound of a single church bell is solemn and sublime, while the pealing of several bells more or less in concert is even more majestic sounding. The mighty peal of bells has an effect on our interior sensibilities, awakening our souls from spiritual sleep...So there is a wonderful hidden power in the striking of a church bell that penetrates deeply into the human heart. "