Month: January 2013

Vadokhryshcha (Orthodox Theophany, January 19), Azdamichy 2011.  Вадохрышча, Аздамічы 2011 год. In 2011 the weather was mild enough for Father Aljaksandr to perform the blessing of water in the churchyard.  

Parishioners bring containers of water — from a sacred spring if one exists near the village, otherwise from home — for the priest to bless during the Orthodox service of Vadokhryshcha (Theophany) on January 19.  Azdamichy 2012.  Вадохрышча, Аздамічы 2012 год.

Parishioners of the church of the Holy Trinity in Azdamichy wait for Father Aljaksandr to bless their containers of water.  Vadokhryshcha (Orthodox Theophany), Azdamichy, January 19, 2012.  На чаканьні асьвячэньня вады, Вадохрышча ў Аздамічах 2012 год.

Vadokhryshcha (Orthodox Theophany), January 19.  Вадохрышча. When the weather on January 19 is not too harsh, as here in 2011, Father Aljaksandr holds the water-blessing ceremony in the churchyard. Azdamichy 2011.  Аздамічы 2011 год.

Vadokhryshcha, Azdamichy 2012.  Вадохрышча, Аздамічы 2012 год. Vadokhryshcha, celebrated January 19, is the great feast of the Theophany, the Orthodox Christian equivalent of Western Christian Epiphany (January 6).  Emphasizing the blessing of water in remembrance of the baptism of Christ, this Orthodox feast commemorates the first clear appearance of the Trinity (God revealing Himself through… Continue reading Photo of the Day for January 17, 2013

A solitary farmstead (khutar) on the road to Ashmjany 2008.  Па дарозе ў Ашмяны 2008 год.

Making kielbasa, Tsjerablichy 2011. Выраб каўбасы ў хаце, Цераблічы 2011. Three generations of women in this extended family will spend two days turning the butchered hog into various products – the major source of meat during the winter for several households.  Here the women use the hog’s small intestine as casing for home-made sausage (kaubasa… Continue reading Photo of the Day for January 15, 2013

Hog butchering, Tsjerablichy 2011.  Калоць кабанчыка, Цераблічы 2011 год. Task completed.  With excellent teamwork among family members, butchering takes about two hours.  The women of the family will now be at work for two days trimming and salting major cuts of meat, chopping up lard (sala), making kielbasa (sausage), and rendering the remaining fat.

On the way back to Sunday service, church of the Holy Trinity, Azdamichy 2012.  Зноў на багаслужэньне пасьля перапынку, царква Сьвятой Тройцы, Аздамічы 2012 год.

Hog butchering, Tsjerablichy 2011.  Калоць кабанчыка, Цераблічы 2011 год. Carrying a heavy side of lard to the kitchen.  Pig lard (sala – сала) is a delicacy throughout Belarus, but especially in Polesia along the border with Ukraine, where eating sala (salo – сало – in Ukrainian) is almost a religion.  The lard is eaten in… Continue reading Photo of the Day for January 12, 2013