Month: September 2012

Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pinsk 2012.  Унебаўзяцьця Найсьвяцейшай Панны Марыі, Пінск 2012 год. At the end of the Mass, the moment the parishioners have eagerly awaited and a splendid example of Christian and pre-Christian syncretism:  Bishop Dzjam’janka joyfully blesses parishioners’ flowers and fruit. Bishop Dzjam’janka is joined by Archimandrite Sergei… Continue reading Photos of the Day for September 30, 2012: Feast of the Assumption / Унебаўзяцьця

Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 15.  Унебаўзяцьця Найсьвяцейшай Панны Марыі. Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pinsk 2012.  Касьцёл Унебаўзяцьця Найсьвяцейшай Панны Марыі, Пінск 2012 год. As with the Orthodox Feast of the Maccabees (see photos for September 18-25), so too the Belarusian celebration of the Roman… Continue reading Photos of the Day for September 29, 2012: Feast of the Assumption / Унебаўзяцьця

Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 15.  Унебаўзяцьця Найсьвяцейшай Панны Марыі. The feast of the Assumption is one of the obligatory celebrations and feasts in the Roman Catholic liturgical year.  Here Bishop of Pinsk Antoni Dzjam’janka (Антоні Дзям’янка) distributes Holy Communion at this year’s celebratory Mass. Church of the Assumption of… Continue reading Photo of the Day for September 28, 2012: Feast of the Assumption / Унебаўзяцьця

Near Hatsuk 2012.  Ля Гацуку 2012 год. This painted boulder demands (in Russian), “LOVE NATURE”.

Gable, Vjeras’nitsa 2012.  Шчыт, Верасьніца 2012 год. Belarusians often incorporate pre-Christian symbols (e.g., the sun or stylized designs of furrows in the field or rows of crops) into the gables of wooden houses.  This gable, like the absorption of pre-Christian traditions into Belarusian church feast days, is an example of the strong Christian/pre-Christian syncretism in… Continue reading Photo of the Day for September 26, 2012

Home from the feast of Honey-Blessing.  Дадому пасьля службы на Мядовы Спас. Azdamichy 2012.  Аздамічы 2012 год.

On the way home with flowers blessed at the Orthodox church feast of the Maccabees (Honey-Blessing Feast), Azdamichy 2012.   Макаўе-Мядовы Спас, Аздамічы 2012 год.  

Feast of Honey-Blessing/Feast of the Maccabees.  Мядовы Спас-Макаўе. This feast is linked to the pre-Christian ceremony of gathering at a sacred source or sacred well and washing one’s face and eyes and drinking from the water to purify one’s soul and give one spiritual insight.  See, for instance, photos for August 14, 2012; August 14,… Continue reading Photo of the Day for September 23, 2012

Feast of Honey-Blessing/Feast of the Maccabees.  Мядовы Спас/Макаўе. The blessing of flowers marks this feast as the first of a series of harvest-time feasts in the Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches. Azdamichy 2012.  Аздамічы 2012 год.

Feast of Honey-Blessing (Feast of the Maccabees).  Мядовы Спас (Макаўе). In this Orthodox church ceremony with pre-Christian roots, Father Aljaksandr blesses the parishioners’ flowers, honey and water. Azdamichy 2012.  Аздамічы 2012 год.