Ivan Moody, Lisbon, November 2018. Photo by Inga Leonova

Father Ivan Moody, Priest, Composer, Theologian

Davor Džalto

January 18, 2024, afternoon. I receive a call from my wife: “Did you hear the news? Fr. Ivan Moody had passed away.” “Ivan Moody, dead? Could it be a mistake?” Hope in such situations always trumps the tragic news, even just for a moment. The news is soon confirmed. The Orthodox world, Serbian Orthodox Church, musicians, composers, and musicologists, have lost a truly remarkable person, a man of great stature.

Ivan Moody was a great priest, composer, theologian, and a wonderful human being. He has given a lot to all of us, and he could have given so much more. Our plans and intentions, however, do not always align with God’s.

I have known Fr. Moody for years. We met in person for the first time in Portugal, many years ago. I remember going with my wife to Lisbon on a holiday and posting some images on Facebook. Fr. Moody (we had been FB friends for years) texted immediately: “Are you in Portugal? Why did you not let me know you were coming!”

Only then did I realize that Fr. Moody actually lived in Portugal (which I, somehow, managed not to know). We quickly arrange a meeting. We went to Estoril, where Fr. Moody waited for us, we lunched together and spent many hours talking about… everything. I was surprised to learn that he knew Serbian, and knew a lot about Serbian history, the Serbian Orthodox Church, and, of course, the Serbian music scene, especially the history of the Serbian church and secular music.

We remained in touch ever since. What connected us was our interest in Orthodox theology, art, and human creativity. I remember having our last longer conversation in Tallinn, at a conference. At the end of one of those busy conference days, we meet in the hotel lobby. I tell him: “Look, I’ve got a really nice bottle of Australian red, and I don’t want to finish it alone.” He joins me, we discuss how some Australian wines are underappreciated, and we talk about church issues, about different societies, and our experiences living in them, about the Mediterranean…

September 8, 2023. I receive the following message on Facebook from Fr. Moody: “I wanted to ask you... I am compiling a zbornik [meaning, in Serbian, “a collected volume”] of my articles on music and theology/spirituality for Saint Vladimir’s Seminary Press. Would you write a preface? It doesn't have to be long, but I would be most grateful!” I reply immediately: “I’d love to, just send me the text!”

He never did. Soon after this correspondence, his health started to deteriorate, until the situation became very difficult toward the end of the year.

Thank you, Ivan, for your friendship, your scholarship, your wit, and your pastoral service. You are, and will continue to be, loved and remembered.

Davor Džalto is Professor in Religion and Art at University College Stockholm, and President of The Institute for the Study of Culture and Christianity.