As I entered the quiet streets of Philadelphia’s historic Old City on April 17, I felt as if time had stopped. Sri Chinmoy held Philadelphia in deep reverence, often referring to it as “the spiritual capital of America.” He considered the city to be a place of extraordinary spiritual significance, one that gave him a sense of divine reality and inner fulfillment.
I was heading to Christ Church, a place that is itself a tangible expression of American history. This 1744 church was the spiritual home of the Founding Fathers of the United States, and it was here, in pew 58, that George Washington regularly sat. Walking down the same aisle as America’s first presidents and realizing that this space commemorates the birth of the Declaration of Independence lent incredible weight to the upcoming concert by the acapella Paree’s Group.
The evening began with the captivating voice of Prema Jackson, a radio announcer from San Francisco. Her opening words were not just a formal welcome; she spoke of music as a universal language that can calm the storms in the human heart. Her speech set the stage for the first notes that immediately resounded throughout the space. Paree’s Group, an international ensemble of women from more than fifteen countries, led by Paree Atkin, presented a selection of songs focused on peace. Songs such as “America, the Renaissance-World-Friend” and harmonizing songs with the theme of Peace were performed, which, in a cappella arrangements without instrumental accompaniment, had an unearthly effect in the acoustics of the church. During the concert, we could hear verses about peace that intertwined with the music. Poetry such as: “Peace in the heart means peace in the world,” added a deep meditative dimension to the entire performance.
Director and speaker Sanjay Rawal also added to the atmosphere with his observations. In his introduction, he cited historical milestones in the United States and reminded us that the ideals of freedom and brotherhood upon which America was founded are a living process that requires inner peace for each individual. His words about the true history of America being written not only in books but in the hearts of people striving for harmony perfectly framed the choir’s performance.
Sri Chinmoy visited the historic Christ Church in Philadelphia on January 10, 1976, as part of the 360-mile Liberty-Torch run between New York and Washington, D.C. After a fifty-year absence, the flaming torch returned to this site in 2026.
~ Ashish
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For more information about events, visit the official website: www.srichinmoycentre.org.
To learn more about Sri Chinmoy, please visit: www.srichinmoy.org.