Category: Uncategorized

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.

Feast of the Maccabees/Feast of Honey-Blessing.  Макаўе-Мядовы Спас. Father Aljaksandr blesses water by dipping his cross into the full barrels.  He makes certain that drops from the cross fall not onto the floor but into the vessel used for sprinkling Holy Water on parishioners and the flowers and honey they have brought to church.  After… Continue reading Photo of the Day for September 20, 2012

Feast of the Maccabees/Feast of Honey-Blessing.  Макаўе-Мядовы Спас. The feast of the Maccabees/feast of honey-blessing is the first harvest-related feast in the Orthodox calendar.  Here parishioners lay out  water, flowers, honey and even poppy seeds (left-center of second photo) for the priest to bless. Azdamichy 2012.  Аздамічы 2012 год.