Apple-Blessing Festival (part II), Azdamichy 2009/Яблычны Спас (частка IІ), Аздамічы 2009 год Apple-Blessing, observed on Transfiguration Day in the Orthodox calendar, is an early harvest festival.  In memory of children who have died young, people, especially women, traditionally must not eat new apples or other newly-ripe fruit before the blessing of apples; it is a… Continue reading Photo of the Day for August 17, 2010

Apple-Blessing Festival (part I), Azdamichy 2009/Яблычны Спас (частка І), Аздамічы 2009 год Apple-Blessing, observed on August 19 — Transfiguration Day in the Orthodox calendar — is an early harvest festival.  In memory of children who have died young, people, especially women, traditionally must not eat new apples or other newly-ripe fruit before the blessing of… Continue reading Photo of the Day for August 16, 2010

To mark the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary/З нагоды Ўнебаўзяцьця Sapotskin 2009/Сапоцкін 2009 год Probably under the influence of an Orthodox custom, the Assumption mass traditionally includes the blessing of a bouquet or basket of flowers. Dzjatlava 2007/Дзятлава 2007 год

Best wishes to Sjarhej and Vol’ha, to be married August 14 in Harodnja (Grodno) in western Belarus/Віншаваньні й найлепшыя пажаданьні Сяргею й Вользе, якія бяруць шлюб 14 жніўня ў Гародні. Mjensk, July 2010/Менск, жнівень 2010 год

August 14 is one of the clearest examples of syncretism, the overlapping or fusion of different traditions, in the Belarusian cycle of the year. Orthodox Christians celebrate the date as Mjadovy Spas (Мядовы Спас), the Honey-Blessing Festival, or Makauje (Макаўе), the Maccabee Festival.  Makauje illustrates how the Church chose a similar-sounding name to absorb the… Continue reading Photos of the Day for August 13, 2010

August 14 is one of the clearest examples of syncretism, the overlapping or fusion of different traditions, in the Belarusian cycle of the year. Traditionally August 14 (August 1 in the Julian or Orthodox calendar) is seen as a marker of the change from the weather of high summer as well as the beginning of… Continue reading Photos of the Day for August 12, 2010

Festival of Hodigetria (part II), Dzisna 2008/Адзігітрыя (частка II), Дзісна 2008 год The Hodigetria of Dzisna, based on an original Byzantine icon, is an image of the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child and pointing to Him as the savior of mankind.  Dzisna, a small city on the Dzvina River northwest of Polatsk, is the… Continue reading Photos of the Day for August 11, 2010

Festival of Hodigetria (part I), Dzisna 2008/Адзігітрыя (частка І), Дзісна 2008 год The Hodigetria of Dzisna, based on an original Byzantine icon, is an image of the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child and pointing to Him as the savior of mankind.  Dzisna, a small city on the Dzvina River northwest of Polatsak, is the… Continue reading Photos of the Day for August 10, 2010

Nadzja and Pavjel’s wedding, Mjensk, June 4, 2010/Надзя й Павел, Менск, 4 чэрвеня 2010 год Happiness and health!/Сто гадоў!/Sto lat!

Nadzja and Pavjel’s wedding, Mjensk, June 4, 2010/Надзя й Павел, Менск, 4 чэрвеня 2010 год Happiness and health!/Сто гадоў!/Sto lat!