User:Philokaliamarana

Sister Marana Saad is the founder and president of Philokalia Institute and Organization. She was a nun at the Lebanese Maronite Order 1977 till 2019. She is a music instructor at Philokalia Institute (known till 2018 as Saint Rafqa Music Institute), and a professor at the Notre Dame University – NDU, the Sainte Famille University (USF), the Antonine University, and the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik – USEK. She has a Ph.D. in monastic theology from St. Anselm’s University – Rome called “The monastic physiognomy of the Lebanese Maronite Order through rules and constitutions”, and a Ph.D. in sacred music from the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik – Lebanon called “The Choir and its educational, social and therapeutic contributions”. She studied choral conducting under Maestro Walter Marzilli at the Institute of Sacred Music in Rome. In 2010, she founded Saint Rafqa’s Institute and Choir (for youth and children), where she is currently teaching and conducting the Philokalia Choir.

Under the direction of Sr. Marana Saad, Philokalia Choir has established its reputation as one of the leading choirs in Lebanon. She directed several liturgical and musical celebrations, masses and concerts at different churches and theatres all over Lebanon and abroad. Sister Marana and the Choir have presented concerts and operettas, where she directed prominent orchestras and other leading choirs, and has received many invitations to international festivals, tributes and events in France, Cyprus, Italy, Poland, Germany and U.S.A. She also conducted the Choir in their recording of many soundtracks for television and movies. In the summer of 2014, she organized a “Friendship between Choirs” festival in Lebanon where she hosted music and choral workshops, and invited leading choirs in Lebanon.

She has participated in different conferences and workshops in Croatia, Rome, Estonia, U.S.A., Cyprus, etc. and has published several articles about sacred music, choir management and leadership. She directed TV programs as an administrator, writer and director. She is also the author of several theological and musical texts, and has composed and directed several religious chants and six albums.