Photos of the Day for September 30, 2013

Teaching to Pray the Rosary, Replja 2013.  Навучаньне малітвы Ружанца, Рэпля 2013 год. It is profoundly moving to watch this generation of Belarusian grandparents — many of whom are old enough to have lived through the brutality of Sovietization, all of whom lived through the savagery of the Nazi German occupation and the re-imposition of… Continue reading Photos of the Day for September 30, 2013

Photo of the Day for September 29, 2013

Churches of Belarus (part XLVI):  Church of the Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Replja 2013.  Касьцёлы Беларусі (частка XLVI):  касьцёл Імя Найсьвяцейшай Панны Мапыі, Рэпля 2013 год. Here seen as the back-drop to young, heavy-laden apple trees, Replja’s early 20th-century church is a fine example of neo-Gothic  architecture in Belarus.

Photo of the Day for September 28, 2013

After an August Storm, Tsjerablichy 2013.  Пасьля жнівеньскай навальніцы, Цераблічы 2013 год. Belarus had a halcyon spring and summer, with only rare days of rain, and never on the weekend.  It didn’t rain hard in Tsjerablichy until the end of August, when autumnal weather finally caught up to the autumnal light which had infused the… Continue reading Photo of the Day for September 28, 2013

Photo of the Day for September 27, 2013

Silver Light in Polesia.  Палескае асьвятленьне. Late afternoon in August, view across the first bridge over the River Mastva, Tsjerablichy 2013.  Жнівеньскі падвечар, краявід праз першага масту над ракой Маства, Цераблічы 2013 год.

Photos of the Day for September 25, 2013

Apple-Blessing Festival/Feast of the Transfiguration (Jablychny Spas), Azdamichy 2013.  Яблычны Спас, Аздамічы 2013 год. In his third and final circuit of the churchyard, Father Aljaksandr holds out his cross for each parishioner to kiss. As soon as they have kissed the cross, people waste no time in heading to the cemetery to place fruit which… Continue reading Photos of the Day for September 25, 2013

Photo of the Day for September 24, 2013

Apple-Blessing Festival/Feast of the Transfiguration (Jablychny Spas), Azdamichy, August 19, 2013.  Яблычны Спас, Аздамічы 2013 год. After Father Aljaksandr has blessed parishioners’ apples and pears, people carefully wrap up their fruit before Father Aljaksandr makes his third and final circuit, when everyone kisses the cross.  While they wait, many families indulge their children and grandchildren,… Continue reading Photo of the Day for September 24, 2013

Photos of the Day for September 23, 2013

Apple-Blessing Feast/Feast of the Transfiguration (Jablychny Spas), Azdamichy, August 19, 2013.  Яблычны Спас, Аздамічы 2013 год. Falling near the middle of the two-week Dormition great fast, the harvest feast of Jablychny Spas (Apple-Blessing Feast/Feast of the Transfiguration) is celebrated in Orthodox parishes throughout Belarus. Returning to my friends in the parish of the central Polesian… Continue reading Photos of the Day for September 23, 2013

Photo of the Day for September 22, 2013

Churches of Belarus (part XLV):  Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, Azdamichy 2013.  Цэрквы Беларусі (частка XLV):  царква Сьвятой Тройцы, Аздамічы 2013 год. Even in mid-August Belarus was bathed in autumnal light.