Patronal feast of the Intercession of the Most Holy Mother of God (Pakrou), Pachapava 2017: I/IV.
The October 14 feast of the Intercession (Pakrou) is not one of the 12 great feasts in the Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar. However, the feast is keenly celebrated in Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia and many Orthodox churches bear the name of the Intercession. In Belarus the feast marks the traditionally rigorously-observed end to work in garden plots or fields; Belarusians look to the Blessed Mother of God for protection of the fields during winter and a propitious start to planting the following spring.
See photos of the day for August 7, 2015 for the story of Father Georgij Sapun (1924-2015), who served as Pachapava’s priest for 60 years. Father Georgij, despite the conspicuous lack of acknowledgement on the web site of the Orthodox achbishopric of Pinsk-Luninjets, was responsible for the restoration of Pachapava’s 1867 church of the Intercession, ruined by Soviet partisans in World War II, and its reopening in 2004. He was also responsible for the restoration of the triangular church of the Holy Trinity in nearby Vjalikaja Svarotva. His memory is beloved by Pachapava’s parishioners, and it was an honor to be able to attend the 40th-day panikhida (memorial service) for Father Georgij in January 2016: see photos of the day for January 31-February 4, 2016.
The parish in Pachapava was exceptionally fortunate to have had Father Vital’ appointed as Father Georgij’s successor. During the Pakrou service it was a great pleasure to see how warmly the parish has accepted Father Vital’ and responded to his pastoral talent. Father Vital’ is one of the three sons of Father Aljaksandr, the outstanding priest of the parish of the Holy Trinity in Azdamichy, where I have done most of my church photography since 2006. Father Aljaksandr traveled to Pachapava to assist his son in the all-night vigil on the 13th-14th and with the liturgy on the 14th.
Many thanks and appreciation to Father Vital’ and the parishioners of Pachapava for their welcome and their strong Christian faith.
Прастольнае сьвята Пакрова Прасьвятой Багародзіцы, Пачапава 2017 г.
Гл. фотаздымкі дня 7 жніўня 2015 г. і 31 студзеня-4 лютага пра былога, любімага прыходам сьвятара ў Пачапаве айца Георгія Сапуна (1924-2015), які аднаўляў цэрквы ў Пачапаве й Вялікай Сваротве, зруінаваныя савецкамі партызанамі. Падчас літургіі я рады бачыў, колькі новы настаяцель айцец Віталь таксама вельмі падабаецца прыходу.
Вялікі дзякуй айцу Віталю й прыходу Пакрова Прасьвятой Багародзіцы за іх прывітаньне вандроўніка-паломніка й за іх моцную хрысьціянскую веру.
Churches of Belarus (part CCXXIV): Orthodox church of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God (1867; restored 2004).
Цэрквы Беларусі (частка CCXXIV): царква Пакрова Прасьвятой Багародзіцы (1867 г.; адрэстаўрыраная 2004 г.).
Pachapava’s Father Vital’ with his father, Father Aljaksandr, who journeyed to Pachapava to assist in conducting the patronal feast.
Настаяцель царквы Пакрова Прасьвятой Багародзіцы айцец Віталь са сваім бацькам айцам Аляксандрам, настаяцелям царквы Сьвятой Тройцы ў Аздамічах.
Liturgy for the patronal feast of the Intercession.
Літургія для прастольнага сьвята Пакрова Прасьвятой Багародзіцы.
Children’s communion.
Дзіцячае прычасьце.
