Radaunitsa (homage to forefathers and other deceased relatives), Azdamichy 2013. Радаўніца, Аздамічы 2013 год.
There are as many as 11 dates during the cycle of the year when Belarusians formally honor their ancestors and other deceased members of their families. Radaunitsa, which traditionally falls on the Tuesday nine days after Orthodox Easter, is one of the two or three most important such rites. Families carefully clean the graves of their forebears’ and other, more recently deceased relatives and have them blessed by the parish priest. Preceding the grave-side blessing, a commemorative liturgy for the deceased takes place in the parish church or, where it exists, cemetery chapel.
In Azdamichy’s cemetery chapel Father Aljaksandr thrice reads through, and blesses, the names of the deceased that parishioners have presented on hand-written lists.
Blessing of graves, Azdamichy cemetery.
