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Easter rites (III/VII).  Велікодныя абрады (III/VII). Women of the Polesian village of Daniljevichy on the way from the re-dressing of a roadside cross to the shrine of the “girl turned to stone”, where they will perform the same Easter morning rite of re-dressing and worship. Раніцай у Вялікдзень бабулькі ў вёсцы Данілевічы ідуць да “каменнай… Continue reading Photo of the Day for May 24, 2015

Easter rites (II/VII).  Велікодныя абрады (II/VII). Christian/pre-Christian syncretism, where Christian rites have overlaid but not destroyed pre-Christian practices, is visible, even in church, on so many Belarusian feast days (e.g., photo for November 20, 2013).  Under the impact of the Soviet-era Chernobyl’ nuclear power plant disaster and general depopulation of villages, there are now sharply… Continue reading Photos of the Day for May 23, 2015

Easter rites (I/VII).  Велікодныя абрады (I/VII). Easter morning re-dressing of roadside crosses, Daniljevichy 2015.  Велікоднае пераапрананьне прыдарожных крыжоў, Данілевічы 2015 г. Having burned the previous year’s cloths on Holy Saturday (photos of the day for May 13-16), women of Daniljevichy meet at sunrise on Easter Day to re-dress village crosses.  They perform this rite with… Continue reading Photos of the Day for May 22, 2015

The evening of Holy Saturday a group of us drove 100 kilometers from Tsjerablichy to Daniljevichy to attend the undressing of roadside crosses and burning of the discarded cloths by village women (see photos of the day for May 13-16). After the all-night Easter service in Azdamichy we again drove to Daniljevichy to attend the… Continue reading Photo of the Day for May 21, 2015

All-Night Easter Service (IV/IV), Azdamichy 2015.  Усяночная служба (IV/IV), Аздамічы 2015 г. Blessing of Easter bread at the end of the all-night service.  Асьвячэньне велікодных пасак. Father Aljaksandr with his acolytes after the all-night service.  He is flanked by two of his sons, with a third acolyte on the right.  Айцец Аляксандр у асяроддзі сыноў-вучняў… Continue reading Photos of the Day for May 20, 2015

All-Night Easter Service (III/IV), Azdamichy 2015.  Усяночная служба (III/IV), Аздамічы 2015 г. Awaiting the blessing of Easter bread.  У чаканьні асьвячэньня велікодных кулічоў. Note the waning moon in the upper right.  Змяншальны месяц баыны наверсе, направа.

All-Night Easter Service (II/IV), Azdamichy 2015.  Усяночная служба (II/IV), Аздамічы 2015 г. At many points during the service, Father Aljaksandr steps out to proclaim thrice, “Christ is risen!”; the congregation thrice responds “Indeed, He is risen!”

All-Night Easter Service (I/IV), Azdamichy 2015.  Усяночная служба (I/IV), Аздамічы 2015 г. Just before midnight on Holy Saturday, Father Aljaksandr carries the Winding-Cloth Icon (Plashchanitsa), representing Christ’s death and burial, from the table representing Christ’s tomb at the rear of the nave through the main door of the iconostasis to the altar.  Дапаўночны перанос Плашчаніцы… Continue reading Photos of the Day for May 17, 2015

Burning last year’s cloths (dressing of crosses) in anticipation of Easter (IV/IV).  Holy Saturday, Daniljevichy (Homjel’ Region) 2015.  Спальваньне тканін (пераапрананьне крыжоў) у чаканьні Вялікодня (IV/IV).  Вялікая субота, Данілевічы (Гомельская вобласьць) 2015 г. When the grannies see that the small fire will not consume the old wooden cross, they try to chop it up with… Continue reading Photo of the Day for May 16, 2015

Burning last year’s cloths (dressing of crosses) in anticipation of Easter (III/IV).  Holy Saturday, Daniljevichy (Homjel’ Region) 2015. After removing and burning last Easter’s cloths from the crosses in the center of Daniljevichy and at the cemetery, the grannies, helped by granny Katsjaryna’s great-granddaughter Maja, finish the rite at two crosses at the village crossroads. … Continue reading Photos of the Day for May 15, 2015