This group is intended as a research and study forum regarding the "Podobny" singing of the Slavic traditions of the Eastern Orthodox Church. By definition, "Podobny" (Greek: "Prosomoia", English: "Special Melodies") are hymns that are sung according to the melodies of other established hymns, the "Samopodobny" (Greek: "Automela", English: "Model Melodies").

The Podobny hymns are divided into three categories: 1) for stichera, 2) for troparia, kontakia and sedalny (sessional hymns), and 3) for svetilny (exaposteilaria). The chant melodies can be further classified according to their origin (such as Znamenny, Kievan, Russian "Greek", Russian "Bulgarian", Carpatho-Rusyn, Gallician, Valaam, Bulgarian, Serbian, Georgian, etc.).

Contributors are asked to submit graphic files in PDF, GIF, JPG, etc. formats, in order to assemble a comprehensive online database of melodies available to all members. Files in Finale, Noteworthy Composer, Sibelius, etc. formats are not helpful to all members, and so I ask that contributors convert them to a graphic format before uploading them to the files. (Adobe Acrobat distiller is available for free download from the internet, or print the image and scan it.) Please upload files to the Files section and place them in the proper folders.

Contributors are also asked to provide specific references to where the melody is located (i.e., bibliographical documentation), its musical tradition or geographical origin, the Tone designation, the category (see above), its name in the original Slavonic (and a translation of the name and or the complete text if possible), and any other known information, such as the day or feast on which it occurs. The moderator will collect the information and include it in an HTML database in the Files section. No compositions please, and contributors are asked to try to provide only the melody line or simple choral arrangements which do not obscure the melody.