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Oak Tree near Machul’ 2014.  Дуб ля в. Мачуль 2014 год. Soviet and Soviet-inspired “amelioration” of vast swaths of the Pripet Marshes has destroyed many of the region’s oak trees.  Noble survivors still catch one’s eye.

Belarus in Faces (part CXXXV):  Easter Day, Azdamichy 2014.  Беларусь у тварах (частка CXXXV):  Вялікдзень, Аздамічы 2014 год. Depending on the character of a village and the mix of kids, parents and grandparents, some village streets form themselves naturally into an extended agora.  Azdamichy’s main street is one such lively place, especially on a Sunday… Continue reading Photo of the Day for June 2, 2014

Belarus in Faces (part CXXXIII):  Easter Day, Azdamichy 2014.  Беларусь у тварах (частка CXXXIII):  Вялікдзень, Аздамічы 2014 год. Depending on the character of a village and the mix of kids, parents and grandparents, some village streets form themselves naturally into an extended agora.  Azdamichy’s main street is one such lively place, especially on a Sunday… Continue reading Photo of the Day for May 31, 2014

Belarus in Faces (part CXXXII):  After the feast of the Ascension, Dzjerkaushchyna 2013.  Беларусь у тварах (частка СХХХІI):  пасьля ўрачыстай Імшы з нагоды Ўнебаўшэсьця, Дзеркаўшчына 2013 год.

In honor of the feast of the Ascension.  З нагоды Ўнебаўшэсьця. Feast of the Ascension, Roman Catholic church of the Ascension (1822), Dzjerkaushchyna 2013.  There are several Orthodox churches in Belarus dedicated to the Ascension.  However, the only Roman Catholic church in Belarus dedicated to the Ascension is the one in Dzjerkaushchyna.  In 2013 it… Continue reading Photos of the Day for May 29, 2014

Orthodox feast of the Ascension, Rakau 2013.  Ушэсьця, Ракаў 2013 год. In 2014 the Western and Orthodox dates for Easter coincided.  Thus this year both Western and Orthodox churches are celebrating the feast of the Ascension (40 days after Easter) on May 29.

Awaiting the blessing of Easter bread and eggs in the churchyard at the end of the all-night service, Azdamichy 2014.  У чаканьні асьвячэньня кулічоў ды яек на прыканцы ўсяночнай службы, Аздамічы 2014 год. This year Father Aljaksandr sharply curtailed the normal lengthy break in the middle of the all-night service.  Thus instead of blessing parishioners’… Continue reading Photos of the Day for May 27, 2014

The all-night Easter service continues in the fully-lit church.  The large door (royal door) in the iconostasis, periodically closed or covered by a curtain during regular services, remains open during the entire Easter service. At regular intervals during the service, Father Aljaksandr thrice proclaims “Christ is Risen!”, to which the congregation replies “Indeed He is… Continue reading Photos of the Day for May 26, 2014

After the midnight procession during the all-night Easter service, the banner-carriers and choir crowd into the church’s narthex and wait before the closed door of the church.  Father Aljaksandr proclaims that “Christ is Risen!”  and gives a blessing to the Holy Trinity.  The doors are opened and the parishioners enter the fully-lit church to continue… Continue reading Photo of the Day for May 25, 2014