Monk plays the semantron

The semantron (Greek: σήμαντρον) is a percussion instrument used in Eastern, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic monasteries to summon the monastics to prayer or at the start of a procession.

It is also known as a semandron, semanteriom (σημαντήριον), simantra (σήμαντρα), xylon (ξύλον) and talanto (ταλαντο). In other languages, it is called as follows: Romanian: toacă; Russian: било, bilo; Bulgarian, Macedonian, Serbian: клепало, klepalo; Arabic: ناقوس, nāqūs.

The instrument comes in three main varieties: portable, consisting of a long wooden plank held in the player's non-dominant hand and struck with a wooden mallet in the dominant; a larger, heavier, fixed timber block suspended by chains and struck by one or two mallets; and a fixed metal variety, often horseshoe-shaped and struck by a metal mallet.[1]
The semantra are usually suspended by chains from a peg in the proaulion (porch of the catholicon) or perhaps outside the refectory door, or on a tree in the courtyard.

In the portable wooden form, at the centre of the instrument's length, each edge is slightly scooped out to allow the player to grasp it by the left hand, while he or she holds a small wooden (or sometimes iron) mallet in the right, with which to strike it in various parts and at various angles, eliciting loud, somewhat musical sounds (κροῦσμα, krousma).[2] Although simple, the instrument nonetheless produces a strong resonance and a variety of different intonations, depending on the thickness of the place struck and the intensity of the force used, so that quite subtle results can be obtained.

The fixed wooden semantron is made of a long, well-planed piece of timber, usually heart of maple (but also beech), from 12 feet (3.7 m) and upwards in length, by 1+1⁄2 feet (46 cm) broad, and 9 inches (23 cm) in thickness.[

[meditationmusicbyalexjackson]

The ensuing silence is just as important as the plank drone.

[liamsibleyyt]

i've tried this with a mahogany plank.. its beautiful when you get that church choir "AHH" sound resonating. :)

[StopFear]

The sound of wood reminds me of something you could hear in Japan but in entirely different context.

[GrumpyGamer]

So beautiful. This is in Romania, Petru Voda Monastery!

[walkingthroughforests]

This is a talanton actually since its made out of wood. The semantron is the metal version of this.

[jordynstanley]

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner