Month: August 2014

Mats’vjej with His Dog, Tsjerablichy 2014.  Мацьвей са сваім сабачкам, Цераблічы 2014 г.

The August 19 Apple-Blessing festival (feast of the Transfiguration) in Azdamichy’s church of the Holy Trinity is one of the parish’s most important feasts in the cycle of the year.  There is an air of celebration and purpose as Father Aljaksandr makes three circuits of the churchyard to bless parishioners’ apples and pears at the… Continue reading Photos of the Day for August 19, 2014

The Apple-Blessing (feast of the Transfiguration) church service in Azdamichy’s church of the Holy Trinity is one of the parish’s most important feasts in the cycle of the year.  Families make a point of having their children and grandchildren take communion, and there is a special sense of joy and anticipation as parishioners await the… Continue reading Photo of the Day for August 18, 2014

The Apple-Blessing (feast of the Transfiguration) church service in Azdamichy’s church of the Holy Trinity is one of the parish’s most important feasts in the cycle of the year.  Families make a point of including their children and grandchildren in the main rites of anointing (as here) and communion, and there is a special sense… Continue reading Photo of the Day for August 17, 2014

The Apple-Blessing festival, which contains strong pre-Christian elements, is commingled with the Orthodox celebration of the feast of the Transfiguration on August 19.  This is the second of three August harvest festivals in the Orthodox calendar.  In memory of children who have died young, people, especially women, avoid eating new apples or other newly-ripe fruit… Continue reading Photo of the Day for August 16, 2014

Bishop Antoni Dzjam’janka blesses the first fruits of the season, feast of the Assumption, Pinsk 2013. Біскуп Антоні Дзям’янка асьвячае садавіну й кветкі, сьвята Ўнебаўзяцьця, Пінск 2013 г.

Honey-Blessing festival, Davyd-Haradok 2013.  Мядовы Спас, Давыд-Гарадок 2013 г. The August 14 feast of the Maccabees/Honey-Blessing festival is the first of three major harvest-related rites in the Orthodox liturgical period of the Dormition fast.  Throughout Belarus parishioners take honey, water and sometimes small bouquets of flowers to be blessed at the end of the service. … Continue reading Photo of the Day for August 14, 2014

Honey-Blessing festival, Davyd-Haradok 2013.  Мядовы Спас, Давыд-Гарадок 2013 г. Reflecting the generations-old tradition of horticulture in villages around Davyd-Haradok, the focus here is on the blessing of flowers rather than honey.

Feast of the Maccabees/Honey-Blessing Festival, Davyd-Haradok 2013.  Макаўе/Мядовы Спас, Давыд-Гарадок 2013 год. The August 14 feast of the Maccabees/Honey-Blessing festival is the first of three major harvest-related rites in the Orthodox liturgical period of the Dormition fast.  Throughout Belarus parishioners take honey, water and sometimes small bouquets of flowers to be blessed at the end… Continue reading Photo of the Day for August 12, 2014