Month: February 2015

Baptism of Jelisjej (part 6/8), Tsjerablichy 2015.  Хрышчэньне Елісея (частка 6/8), Цераблічы 2015 г. At the end of the ceremony, Father Vital’ cuts several strands of hair to be placed on the back of an icon bought to commemorate the baptism.

Baptism of Jelisjej (part 5/8), Tsjerablichy 2015.  Хрышчэньне Елісея (частка 5/8), Цераблічы 2015 г. Father Vital’ anoints Jelisjej’s ears, eyes, cheeks, hands and feet to give him the protection of the Holy Spirit.

Baptism of Jelisjej (part 4/8):  preparation for anointing with oil.  Tsjerablichy 2015.  Хрышчэньне Елісея (частка 4/8):  падрыхтоўка да памазаньня асьвячоным алеем.  Цераблічы 2015 г.

Baptism of Jelisjej (part 3/8), Tsjerablichy 2015.  Хрышчэньне Елісея (частка 3/8), Цераблічы 2015 г. Some priests cup water from a bowl in their hand and pour it gently over the head of the baby rather than immersing him as Father Vital’ does here.

Baptism of Jelisjej (part 2/8), Tsjerablichy 2015.  Хрышчэньне Елісея (частка 2/8), Цераблічы 2015 г. Father Vital’ blows on Jelisjej and touches his forehead to symbolize the entry of the Holy Spirit.  

Baptism of Jelisjej (part 1/8), Tsjerablichy 2015.  Хрышчэньне Елісея (частка 1/8), Цераблічы 2015 г. In Orthodox practice in Polesia it is customary to have two sets of godparents.  The child’s parents are not permitted to be present in the nave for the ceremony, but must wait outside.  Here Ivan, one of one-month-old Jelisjej’s godfathers, holds… Continue reading Photos of the Day for February 14, 2015

Belarus in Faces (part CXLIV): Tsjerablichy 2015. Awaiting the baptism of Jelisjej, the one-month-old brother of Chesa (the girl in the middle). Беларусь у тварах (частка CXLIV):  Цераблічы 2015 г. У чаканьні хрышчэньня Елісея, аднамесячнага браціка Чэсы (дзяўчынкі ў сярэдзіні).

Interior light.  Belarusian cuisine:  celebrating Jelisjej’s baptism.  Tsjerablichy 2015. Ivan and Ljuda Pjetrusjevich welcome Godparents, relatives and neighbors for a traditional Polesian celebration after the January 19 baptism of Jelisjej, their one-month-old fourth child (third son). Інтэр’ернае асьвятленьне.  Сьвяткаваньне пасьля хрышчэньня аднамесячнага Елісея, чацьвёртага дзіцяці (трэцяга сына) Івана й Люды Петрусевічаў.  Цераблічы 2015 г. One… Continue reading Photos of the Day for February 12, 2015

Interior light:  morning still-life in the kitchen.  Tsjerablichy 2011. Polesian village breakfast fare:  creamy rice in milk from the family cow (malochnaja – малочная) and tart-sweet drink made with fruit from the family orchard (kampot – кампот). Інтэр’ернае асьвятленьне:  ранішні нацюрморт у кухні.  Цераблічы 2011 г.

Interior light:  freshly-made crepes (bliny – бліны).  Tsjerablichy 2010. Every homemaker has her own recipe for bliny, whose compelling fragrance draws one irresistibly to the kitchen.  Bliny are eaten with the fingers, rolled up after slowly being slathered with butter, honey or home-made preserves (varen’ne – варэньне). Інтэр’ернае асьвятленьне:  сьвежыя палескія блінчыкі…смакатааа.  Цераблічы 2010.