Month: March 2011

Triple Christening, Al’homjel’ (Ohljamjel’) 2011.  The priest of the Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene arranged to christen three families’ newborns — Jaroslav, Cyril and Sofia — at the same time.  Here at the priest’s command the Godparents turn to face outward, symbolizing their commitment to protect their Godchildren from Satan.  In the Orthodox tradition only… Continue reading Photo of the Day for March 31, 2011: Christening in Church III

Portraits of Belarus XVI.  Партрэты Беларусі (частка XVI). At the Orthodox Feast of the Theophany (January 19), Azdamichy 2011.  Вадохрышча, Аздамічы 2011 год.

Triple Christening, Al’homjel’ 2011.  The priest of the Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene arranged to christen three families’ newborns — Jaroslav, Cyril and Sofia — at the same time.  Orthodox christenings use holy oil and water.  Here the priest is christening baby Sofia with water.  In the Orthodox tradition only the Godparents take part in… Continue reading Photo of the Day for March 29, 2011: Christening in Church II

Women of Polesia XXVII.  Паляшучкі (частка XXVII). Orthodox Theophany (Vadokhryshcha), Azdamichy 2011.  Вадохрышча, Аздамічы 2011 год.

Landscapes of Belaus XIII.  Краявіды Беларусі (частка ХІІІ). Late Winter, Panjamon’ 2011.  Позная зіма, Панямонь 2011 год.

Landscapes of Belarus XII.  Краявіды Беларусі (частка ХІІ). Lichytsy 2011.  Лічыцы 2011 год.

In honor of Annunciation Day.  Са сьвятам Звеставаньня Пана! From Luke 1: [28] And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. [29] And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind… Continue reading Photo of the Day for March 25, 2011: Annunciation Day / Звеставаньне Пана

Carrying logs to heat hothouses for cucumbers.  In a string of Polesian villages of eastern Stolin District, March nights are thick with the smoke from wood-burning stoves used to heat hothouses holding new cucumber vines.  In this way the villagers get a jump on the cucumber season.  Cucumbers grown by households and private farms are… Continue reading Photo of the Day for March 24, 2011

Triple Christening, Al’homjel’ 2011.  The priest of the Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene arranged to christen three families’ newborns — Jaroslav, Cyril and Sofia — at the same time.  In the Orthodox tradition only the Godparents take part in the ceremony; parents are not allowed. Патройнае хрышчэньне, Альгомель 2011 год.  Айцец царквы Марыі Магдалены хрысьціць… Continue reading Photo of the Day for March 23, 2011: Christening in Church I

The Loom I.  Кросны (частка І). In previous generations the loom was an essential Polesian household fixture.  But weaving was an arduous task.  Granny Vul’ljana recalls how women and girls would exhaust themselves weaving long into winter nights to produce enough cloth for the coming year.  Now, she notes, only three looms remain in the… Continue reading Photo of the Day for March 22, 2011: The Loom I