Moravian University Christmas Vespers

Christmas Vespers is a wonderful opportunity for the campus community to share in the beautiful candlelight ceremony that is distinctive of the Moravian tradition. Music by our students combines with the beauty of the Liturgy in this service for the University community.

We share the traditional Moravian candlelight worship services on six evenings in December.  Music performed by Moravian students, in concert with the choir and musical ensembles, ushers in the holiday season.  

Please note: Dates for the 2023 Christmas Vespers services will be announced here next year. The waiting list will open on September 1, 2023.

Please enjoy the program and recording for Christmas Vespers 2022:

About Vespers

The Vespers service is an expression of two traditional forms of worship in the Moravian Church, the Singstunde and the Candlelight Service. A Moravian Singstunde (Singing Hour) is a service of music with no preaching. Since the 1720s, Moravians have been known for their worshipful singing. 

In the service, the music has been carefully selected and arranged to bring the Christmas message without need of a sermon. The Moravian candlelight service originated in 1747 in Marienborn, Germany, when candles with red trimming were distributed at the children’s Christmas service. Bethlehem’s first candle service was in 1756.

The beloved hymn “Morning Star,” traditionally sung with a child soloist, was composed in 1836 by Francis Florentine Hagen, a member of the Moravian Theological Seminary Class of 1835.

Moravian University encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. Anyone who anticipates needing any type of accommodation or who has questions about the physical access provided should contact Lisa Brand at brandl@moravian.edu or (610) 861-1338 at least one week prior to visiting Moravian University.