Unearthing an ancient hymn: ‘The First Hymn Project’ screening at Wheaton College
On Tuesday, Oct. 14, Wheaton College presents “The First Hymn Project | Encore Performance,” a film screening by The First Hymn Project Film
It will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Armerding Center for Music and the Arts Recital Hall, Room 132, 520 E. Kenilworth Ave. in Wheaton. Get tickets via tickets.wheaton.edu.
The documentary film, “The First Hymn Project: Resurrecting a Song Buried for Millennia,” features John Dickson, Chris Tomlin, Ben Fielding-and the Wheaton College Concert Choir.
This documentary, written by Dickson, traces the journey of the oldest Christian hymn ever discovered, with a nearly 2,000-year-old Greek lyric and melody buried in Egypt for centuries.
This rare find offers a glimpse into early Christian hymns, with the line “Patera hui on haggion, pneuma” referring to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. What makes this hymn remarkable is that it’s the only known Christian piece using ancient pagan notation, blending Christian beliefs with Greco-Roman musical traditions.
From Egypt to Nashville, this historical and musical journey featuring Chris Tomlin explores sacred songs and modern hits.
The First Hymn Project aims to bring back a song the church hasn’t sung in nearly two millennia, with the Wheaton College Concert Choir performing both in the film and live during the screening.
Dickson is the writer and producer of the documentary and is the Jean Kvamme Distinguished Professor of Biblical Studies and Public Christianity at Wheaton College, Illinois.
Following a career as a singer-songwriter, Dickson devoted himself to theological and historical studies, graduating with First Class Honours from Moore Theological College and a Ph.D. in Ancient History from Macquarie University, where he taught both New Testament and World Religions. He subsequently taught Jesus and the Gospels at the University of Sydney, as well as Christian Mission at Ridley Theological College, Melbourne.
Since 2015 he has held the research position of Visiting Academic in the Faculty of Classics at the University of Oxford. An ordained Anglican clergyman, Dickson pastored a local church in Sydney for a decade. A longtime public advocate for the Christian faith, Dickson founded Australia’s Centre for Public Christianity in 2007 and is the author of more than 20 books. He has produced and presented three television documentaries (with a fourth on the way) and he is the host of “Undeceptions,” Australia’s no. 1 religion podcast with over 2 million downloads. Dickson now lives in Wheaton with his wife, Buff. He has three adult children in Sydney.
For more information, contact Kristi Wright at (630) 752-5010 or artsevents@wheaton.edu.