Photo of the Day for April 20, 2012

Spring flood along the Bjarezina River in north-central Belarus.  Паводка ўздоўж ракі Бярэзіна.

Vjalikaje Stakhava 2010.  Вялікае Стахава 2010 год.

spring-flood-vjalikaje-stakhava-2010

Photo of the Day for April 19, 2012: Interior Light XVI / Інтэр’ернае асьвятленьне XVI

Interior Light (part XVI).  Інтэр’ернае асьвятленьне (частка XVI).

Iuje 2009.  Іўе 2009 год.

interior-light-xvi-iuje-2009-2009045-33-000038

Photo of the Day for April 18, 2012: Women of Tsjerablichy I / Цераблічанкі І

Women of Tsjerablichy (part I).  Цераблічанкі (частка І).

Tsjerablichy 2011.  Цераблічы 2011 год.

tsjerablichanki-2011

Photo of the Day for April 17, 2012

Early spring, Ishkal’dz’ 2011.  Ішкальдзь 2011 год.

ishkaldz-2011

Photo of the Day for April 16, 2012

Easter Day traditions:  who’s Easter egg will crack?  Яйкамі біцца.

On Easter Day families visit one another in Belarusian villages and kids compete to see who’s egg will crack the other.  The winner gets to keep the cracked egg.  Pasha is a champion egg-cracker in Tsjerablichy, partly owing to his skill in picking the hardest egg through the time-honored technique of tapping the eggs on one’s teeth to judge which one has the best (hardest) sound.

Tsjerablichy 2010.  Цераблічы 2010 год.

easter-egg-tradition-tsjerablichy-2010-2010052-a21

Christ is Risen! / Хрыстос уваскрос!

Orthodox Easter.  Christ is Risen, Christ is Risen, Christ is Risen!  Happy Easter!

Пасха.  Хрыстос уваскрос!  Хрыстос уваскрос!  Хрыстос уваскрос!  Сапраўды ўваскрос!  Са сьвятам!

Easter Day Procession, Bjezdzjezh 2007.  Велікодны хросны ход, Бездзеж 2007 год.

easter-day-procession-bjezdzjezh-2007-2007155-30

Photo of the Day for April 14, 2012

Blessing of Easter bread on Orthodox Holy Saturday.  Асьвячэньне кулічоў для цераблюкоў і цераблічанак.

The villagers of Tsjerablichy plan to build their own church.  For now they remain part of the parish of the church of the Holy Trinity in neighboring Azdamichy.  On Holy Saturday Father Aljaksandr blesses the Easter bread of those Tsjerabljuki who will not be able to attend the all-night Easter vigil and service.  He makes three circuits of the church.  On this, the second circuit, he blesses the bread with water.

Azdamichy 2010.  Аздамічы 2010 год.

blessing-of-easter-bread-holy-saturday-azdamichy-2010-2010048-21a

Photo of the Day for April 13, 2012

Blessing of Easter bread on Holy Saturday.  Асьвячэньне кулічоў для цераблюкоў і цераблічанак.

The villagers of Tsjerablichy plan to build their own church.  For now they remain part of the parish of the church of the Holy Trinity in neighboring Azdamichy.  On Holy Saturday Father Aljaksandr blesses the Easter bread of those Tsjerabljuki who will not be able to attend the all-night Easter vigil and service.  He makes three circuits of the church.  On this, the first circuit, he blesses the bread with incense.  In 2010 Easter came early in the Orthodox calendar, on April 4, and the weather was still chilly, but the storks were already well-settled.

Azdamichy 2010.  Аздамічы 2010 год.

blessing-of-easter-bread-holy-saturday-azdamichy-2010-2010048-14a

Photo of the Day for April 12, 2012

Preparations for Orthodox Easter.  Падрыхтоўка да Пасхы.

Church of the Holy Trinity, Azdamichy 2009.  Царква Сьвятой Тройцы, Аздамічы 2009 год.

preparations-for-easter-service-azdamichy-2009-2009076-05

Photo of the Day for April 11, 2012

Spring Flood, Maljeshau 2010.  Паводка, Малешаў 2010 год.

spring-flood-maljeshau-2010