Photos of the Day for March 17, 2018

Immersion (kupan’nje – купаньне; also called Jardan’ – Іардань) on the January 19 Orthodox feast of the Baptism of the Lord/Theophany (Vadokhryshcha).  River Moustva, Tsjerablichy 2018. The custom of purification by total immersion in icy mid-winter water is pre-Christian, and is not recognized by the Orthodox church in Belarus as an official part of the… Continue reading Photos of the Day for March 17, 2018

Photos of the Day for March 16, 2018

Orthodox feast of the Baptism of Jesus/Theophany (known colloquially as Vadokhryshcha – Вадохрышча).  Tsjerablichy 2018. Falling on January 19, Vadokhryshcha is one of the 12 great feasts in the Orthodox liturgical cycle.  Vadokhryshcha is the Orthodox Christian equivalent of Western Christian Epiphany (January 6).  In celebrating the baptism of Christ, Vadokhryshcha commemorates the Theophany, the… Continue reading Photos of the Day for March 16, 2018

Photos of the Day for March 15, 2018

Orthodox feast of the Baptism of Jesus/Theophany (known colloquially as Vadokhryshcha – Вадохрышча).  Azdamichy 2018. Falling on January 19, Vadokhryshcha is one of the 12 great feasts in the Orthodox liturgical cycle.  Vadokhryshcha is the Orthodox Christian equivalent of Western Christian Epiphany (January 6).  In celebrating the baptism of Christ, Vadokhryshcha commemorates the Theophany, the… Continue reading Photos of the Day for March 15, 2018

Photo of the Day for March 14, 2018

Portraits of Polesia:  Chesa and her brother Mats’vjej, Tsjerablichy 2018. Партрэты Палесься: Чэса з брацікам Мацьвеем, Цераблічы 2018 г.  

Photos of the Day for February 18, 2018

Orthodox feast of the Circumcision of the Lord (January 14), Azdamichy 2018. Сьвята Абрэзаньня Гасподняга (14 студзеня), Аздамічы 2018 г.        

Photo of the Day for February 15, 2018

Traditions and customs of Polesia (Pripet Marshes):  bundle of stalks of rye, used to sprinkle water as a blessing of the coffin in the grave.  Tsjerablichy 2018. A household which has stalks of rye to sell for this purpose will hang a bunch on the porch by the door.  It is the custom in Tsjerablichy… Continue reading Photo of the Day for February 15, 2018

Photos of the Day for February 13, 2018

One-year wake (paminki – памінкі) for Maryja Mal’tsjevich.  Tsjerablichy 2018. After a memorial service in church and visit to the grave, family members host a ritual meal in the home where the deceased died.  The paminki cycle can include up to seven ritual meals at set intervals over the year following burial.  These photos show… Continue reading Photos of the Day for February 13, 2018