In the hills of Zahle, Lebanon, the newly built Saydet El Farah (Lady of Joy) Orthodox Church opens its doors for the first time. Designed as a place of worship, reflection, and tradition, the space combines contemporary architecture with the timeless rituals of the Orthodox faith.
This is also a landmark achievement: the first Russian-style Orthodox church in Lebanon, built under the guidance of Metropolitan Niphon Saykaly, the representative of the Patriarchate of Antioch to the Moscow Patriarchate.
With large reflective surfaces, soaring ceilings, and limited natural absorption, the building presents the kind of acoustic challenges that demand a system focused on vocal intelligibility and directional control. Understanding these requirements, and in collaboration with our Lebanese distributor Eltek, Lynx Pro Audio provided a tailored audio installation designed to deliver clarity while respecting the visual integrity of the space.
To achieve this, the solution centered on Ionic column loudspeakers, well-suited for reverberant environments and highly controlled coverage. The main system is built around the Ionic V28, a passive two-way column speaker housing eight 4” drivers. With a narrow vertical and 100° horizontal dispersion pattern, the V28 ensures that energy is focused toward the congregation, minimizing reflections from hard surfaces like stone floors or vaulted ceilings. This helps maintain speech clarity throughout the space without the need for excessive SPL or corrective EQ.
Ionic Series: Designed for reverberant spaces
Supporting this setup are several Ionic V24 units. Each V24 includes four 4” drivers with 1” voice coils and a 1” high-frequency compression driver coupled to a waveguide. With a nominal impedance of 16 Ω, the V24 is ideal for extending coverage to side aisles or auxiliary zones. Its compact design and tonal consistency with the V28 allow the two models to function together seamlessly, eliminating the need for delay speakers even in long, narrow spaces.
Both columns feature a slim profile and white finish, ensuring unobtrusive integration into the church’s architectural design. Installation was carried out with concealed wiring and custom mounting, preserving the aesthetic continuity of the sanctuary while optimizing acoustic performance.
A balanced, clear system for worship
The result is a system that balances technical precision with architectural sensitivity. From the altar to the last pew, speech remains clear and intelligible, supported by a robust yet discreet setup. This project stands as a reference for how Lynx Pro Audio’s Ionic series can meet the demands of modern houses of worship achieving reliable, high-performance results without compromising the spiritual and visual atmosphere of the space.
