Photos of the Day for October 11, 2016

Blessing of apples, Orthodox feast of the Transfiguration (Apple-Blessing feast), Azdamichy 2016. Father Aljaksandr makes three circuits of the churchyard to cense the apples, to bless them with water, and to offer the cross for parishioners to kiss before they hurry to the cemetery to place blessed fruit on the graves of their forebears. Асьвячэньне… Continue reading Photos of the Day for October 11, 2016

Photos of the Day for October 10, 2016

Children’s communion, Orthodox feast of the Transfiguration (Apple-Blessing feast), Azdamichy 2016. Children receive communion in the Orthodox tradition; the rite is a powerful and moving example of parents’ and grandparents’ transmission of faith and tradition to their offspring. Дзіцячае прычасьце, Праабражэньне Гасподняе/Яблячны Спас, Аздамічы 2016 г.  

Photos of the Day for October 9, 2016

Orthodox feast of the Transfiguration (Apple-Blessing feast), Azdamichy 2016. The church of the Holy Trinity in Azdamichy celebrates the feast of the Transfiguration with a five-hour service of Matins and the Liturgy, including a half-hour break roughly in the middle and the blessing of apples at the end. Праабражэньне Гасподняе/Яблячны Спас, Аздамічы 2016 г.  … Continue reading Photos of the Day for October 9, 2016

Photos of the Day for October 8, 2016

Feast of the Transfiguration (Apple-Blessing Feast – Jablychny Spas) 2016. This year marked the tenth time in a row I have had the good fortune to celebrate the August 19 Orthodox feast of the Transfiguration (Apple-Blessing Feast – Jablychny Spas) with the parishioners of the church of the Holy Trinity in Azdamichy.  It was also… Continue reading Photos of the Day for October 8, 2016

Photos of the Day for October 7, 2016

Polesian roads:  from the Sporava Marsh Preserve to Pinsk 2016, part V/V. Палескія дарогі:  са Спораўскага заказніку ў Пінск 2016 г., частка V/V.   Ahova, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of Pinsk, is renowned for its craftsmanship in painted wooden chests.  The building shown here — either a former school, other official building, or… Continue reading Photos of the Day for October 7, 2016

Photos of the Day for October 6, 2016

Polesian roads:  from the Sporava Marsh Preserve to Pinsk 2016, part IV/V. Палескія дарогі:  са Спораўскага заказніку ў Пінск 2016 г., частка IV/V.   Wooden window-frame decorations, Zavjersha. Ліштвы, Заверша.     Crosses of Belarus (part LXI): Drobjaty. Крыжы Беларусі (частка LXI), Дробяты.     Churches of Belarus (part CLXXXV):  Orthodox church of the Birth… Continue reading Photos of the Day for October 6, 2016

Photo of the Day for October 5, 2016

Polesian roads:  from the Sporava Marsh Preserve to Pinsk, part III/V.  Belarus in Faces (part CCXIII):  Bjezdzjezh 2016. Палескія дарогі:  са Спораўскага заказніку ў Пінск, частка III/V.  Беларусь у тварах (частка CCXIII):  Бездзеж 2016 г.  

Photos of the Day for October 4, 2016

Polesian roads:  from the Sporava Marsh Preserve to Pinsk 2016, part II/V:  Bjezdzjezh. The Polesian village of Bjezdzjezh in Drahichyn District of western Belarus is known for its Easter-day fair on the village square, where the 1784 wooden Orthodox church of the Holy Trinity stands.  Bjezdzjezh is also well-known for its tradition of hand-embroidered aprons… Continue reading Photos of the Day for October 4, 2016

Photos of the Day for October 3, 2016

Polesian roads:  from the Sporava Marsh Preserve to Pinsk 2016, part I/V. Wandering Belarus’ back roads is a pleasure for a photographer.  One needs to forget sticking rigidly to a schedule, for in the slow passage through village and forest, past pastures and fields, one absorbs the deep history and even deeper rhythms of the nation… Continue reading Photos of the Day for October 3, 2016

Photos of the Day for October 2, 2016

Festival and fair at the tenth annual Sporauski scything competition, Vysokaje (Sporauski Wetlands Preserve) 2016. Фестываль пры дзясятых штогадовых Спораўскіх сенакосах, Высокае (Спораўскі заказнік) 2016 г.:  рамонт кос.   Ljudmila, Halina and Maryja in Belarusian traditional embroidered costumes from Drahichyn District with a beautiful display of hand-embroidered aprons and runners from the area around Bjezdzjezh.… Continue reading Photos of the Day for October 2, 2016