Chertsy 2010/Чэрцы 2010 год

This rolling-hill landscape is typical of central-western Vitebsk Region in northern Belarus.

The Extraordinary in the “Ordinary” VII: Inheritance /Надзвычайнае ў “звычайным“ (частка VII): Дарога расьце ўсё жыцьцё

It is exceptionally moving to see how carefully and steadily Belarusan parents and especially grandparents pass on traditions to their children and grandchildren.

Асабліва кранае тое, з якой стараннасьцю, з якім цярпеньнем беларускія бацькі і асабліва дзядулі і бабулі перадаюць малодшым свае традыцыі.

August Evening, Rubjel’ 2008/Жнівеньскі вечар, Рубель 2008 год

Vjalikaje Maljeshava 2010/Вялікае Малешава 2010 год

Njehljubka 2010/Неглюбка 2010 г.

First anniversary of the coronation of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sovereign of the Lakes, August 22, 2009, Braslau (lake region in northern Belarus)/Першыя ўгодкі каранацыі Абраза Найсьв. Панны Марыі-Валадаркі Азёраў, Браслаў 22.08.2009

The new birth of faith has been especially striking under the leadership of Bishop Uladzislau Blin in the Vitebsk Diocese of northern Belarus.

A small part of the crowd gathered from all over Belarus and from many other countries for the coronation of the image

Presentation of gifts

Haying in August, Sjarhjejevichy 2009/Жнівеньскі сенакос, Сяргеевічы 2009 год

Apple-Blessing Festival (part V), Azdamichy 2009/Яблычны Спас (частка V), Аздамічы 2009 год

Apple-Blessing, observed on Transfiguration Day in the Orthodox calendar, is an early harvest festival.

In Azdamichy in the Central Pripet region of Polesia the Apple-Blessing church service is especially heavily attended.  At the end of the service the priest circles the church three times to bless parishioners’ apples and other fruits.  Parishioners then hurry to the cemetery to place fruit at the graves of their forebears.

Apple-Blessing Festival (part IV), Azdamichy 2009/Яблычны Спас (частка IV), Аздамічы 2009 год

Apple-Blessing, observed on August 19 — Transfiguration Day in the Orthodox calendar — is an early harvest festival.  In memory of children who have died young, people, especially women, traditionally must not eat new apples or other newly-ripe fruit before the blessing of apples; it is a traditional belief that deferring the eating of apples permits deceased children to receive apples from the Lord in heaven first.

The Apple-Blessing church service in Azdamichy in the Central Pripet region of Polesia is always heavily attended.

The Extraordinary in the “Ordinary” VI: Inheritance/Надзвычайнае ў “звычайным“ (частка VII): Дарога расьце ўсё жыцьцё

It is exceptionally moving to see how carefully and steadily Belarusan parents and especially grandparents pass on traditions to their children and grandchildren.

Асабліва кранае тое, з якой стараннасьцю, з якім цярпеньнем беларускія бацькі і асабліва дзядулі і бабулі перадаюць малодшым свае традыцыі.

Apple-Blessing Festival (part III), Azdamichy 2009/Яблычны Спас (частка IIІ), Аздамічы 2009 год

Apple-Blessing Festival (part II), Azdamichy 2009/Яблычны Спас (частка IІ), Аздамічы 2009 год

Apple-Blessing, observed on Transfiguration Day in the Orthodox calendar, is an early harvest festival.  In memory of children who have died young, people, especially women, traditionally must not eat new apples or other newly-ripe fruit before the blessing of apples; it is a traditional belief that deferring the eating of apples permits deceased children to receive apples from the Lord in heaven first.

The Apple-Blessing church service in the Polesian village of Azdamichy  is one of the parish’s most important moments in the cycle of the year.