Enduring Faces (part VII).  Выветраныя твары (частка VII).

Ros’ 2011.  Рось 2011 год.

Celebration of the Founding of the Church of the Dormition (part IV), Rubjel’ 2011.  Сьвяток царквы Ўсьпеньня Прасьвятой Багародзіцы (частка ІV), Рубель 2011 год.

The congregation in Rubjel’ has an outstanding choir.  Рубельскі хор адзін з маіх люблёных на Палесьсі.

Celebration of the Founding of the Church of the Dormition (part III), Rubjel’ 2011.  Сьвяток заснаваньня царквы Ўсьпеньня Прасьвятой Багародзіцы (частка ІII), Рубель 2011 год.

Portraits of Belarus (part XXIX).  Партрэты Беларусі (частка ХХІХ).

Bjezdzjezh 2007.  Бездзеж 2007 год.

Celebration of the Founding of the Church of the Dormition (part II), Rubjel’ 2011.  Сьвяток царквы Ўсьпеньня Прасьвятой Багародзіцы (частка ІI), Рубель 2011 год.

Celebration of the Founding of the Church of the Dormition (part I), Rubjel’ 2011.  Сьвяток царквы Ўсьпеньня Прасьвятой Багародзіцы (частка І), Рубель 2011 год.

Rubjel’ is a thriving village in the Stolin District of the central Prypjats’ region of  Belarusian Polesia.  The village’s Orthodox parish is one of the most active parishes of the region, with an outstanding choir.

After the end of the Soviet occupation and thus the end of aggressive Soviet atheism, the parish decided to build a new church next to the historic (1796) wooden church of the Archangel Michael, deemed too small to fit the revived parish.  The church of the Dormition was founded in 1992.  The Orthodox Feast of the Dormition falls on August 28 in the modern Gregorian calendar.  However, given that the nearby village of Al’pjen’ also has a church of the Dormition, Rubjel’ celebrates the founding of its church on August 29.  In 2011 Stefan, Archbishop of Pinsk-Luninets, presided over the celebration.  In this photo parishioners await the Archbishop’s arrival.

Iuje 2008.  Іўе 2008 год.

Belarus in Faces (part XXXVIII).  Беларусь у тварах (частка XXXVIII).

Ljuban’ District 2006.  Любаньшчына 2006 год.

Vadokhryshcha (part III).  Вадохрышча (частка III).

Vadokhryshcha, celebrated January 19, is the great feast of the Theophany, the Orthodox Christian equivalent of Western Christian Epiphany (January 6).  Parishioners bring water for the priest to bless at the end of the liturgy.

Azdamichy 2011.  Аздамічы 2011 год.

Vadokhryshcha (part II).  Вадохрышча (частка II).

Vadokhryshcha, celebrated January 19, is the great feast of the Theophany, the Orthodox Christian equivalent of Western Christian Epiphany (January 6).  The focus of the celebration is the blessing of water in remembrance of the baptism of Christ.

Azdamichy 2011.  Аздамічы 2011 год.