Photos of the Day for August 14, 2020

Feast of the Maccabees (Makauje)/Honey-Blessing feast (Mjadovy Spas), Davyd-Haradok 2018:  I/VI.  This August 14 feast is one of the clearest examples of syncretism, the overlapping or fusion of Christian and pre-Christian rites, in the Belarusian cycle of the year. From pre-Christian times, Belarusians have observed rites in August to mark the transition from summer to… Continue reading Photos of the Day for August 14, 2020

Photo of the Day for August 13, 2020

Churches of Belarus (part CCCLXXX):  Orthodox church of the Icon of Our Lady of Kazan (1913), Davyd-Haradok 2018. Цэрквы Беларусі (частка CCCLXXX): царква абраза Маці Божай Казанскай (1913 г.), Давыд-Гарадок 2018 г.    

Photos of the Day for September 19, 2017

Portraits of Polesia:  feast of the Maccabees (Makauje)/Honey-Blessing feast (Mjadovy Spas), Davyd-Haradok 2017:  V/V.  Партрэты Палесься:  Макаўе/Мядовы спас, Давыд-Гарадок 2017 г.:  V/V.      A mother with her one-month-old baby. Маці са сваім аднамесячным дзіцём.       After the blessing. Пасьля асьвячэньня.       After I photographed this boy… Пасьля таго, як здымаў… Continue reading Photos of the Day for September 19, 2017

Photos of the Day for September 18, 2017

Feast of the Maccabees (Makauje)/Honey-Blessing feast (Mjadovy Spas), Davyd-Haradok 2017:  IV/V.  Priests normally bless with water by snapping the brush forward and back over their head.  Here the priest uses a sidearm motion liberally to douse parishioners, causing much merriment. Макаўе/Мядовы спас, Давыд-Гарадок 2017 г.:  IV/V.           

Photos of the Day for September 17, 2017

Feast of the Maccabees (Makauje)/Honey-Blessing feast (Mjadovy Spas), Davyd-Haradok 2017:  III/V.  Parishioners focus on the actual blessing, and in the forecourt of the church in Davyd-Haradok they raise their bouquets with such fervor that one feels lifted off one’s feet.  The excitement and intensity of devotion has not been diminished by the decision of Davyd-Haradok’s… Continue reading Photos of the Day for September 17, 2017

Photos of the Day for September 16, 2017

Feast of the Maccabees (Makauje)/Honey-Blessing feast (Mjadovy Spas), Davyd-Haradok 2017:  II/V.  Parishioners eagerly await the blessing of flowers.   Макаўе/Мядовы спас, Давыд-Гарадок 2017 г.:  II/V.           

Photo of the Day for September 15, 2017

Feast of the Maccabees (Makauje)/Honey-Blessing feast (Mjadovy Spas), Davyd-Haradok 2017:  I/V.  August 14 is one of the clearest examples of syncretism, the overlapping or fusion of Christian and pre-Christian rites, in the Belarusian cycle of the year. From pre-Christian times, Belarusians have observed rites in August to mark the transition from summer to autumn, from… Continue reading Photo of the Day for September 15, 2017

Photos of the Day for February 24, 2017

Polesia on Old-New Year’s Eve:  Davyd-Haradok (VI/VI) 2017. У чаканьні палескага шчадрэца:  Давыд-Гарадок (VI/VI) 2017 г.     Crosses of Belarus (part LXIV):  dressed roadside cross. Крыжы Беларусі (частка LXIV):  апрануты прыдарожны крыж.

Photo of the Day for February 23, 2017

Polesia on Old-New Year’s Eve:  Davyd-Haradok (V/VI) 2017. У чаканьні палескага шчадрэца:  Давыд-Гарадок (V/VI) 2017 г.     Ice-skating on Lake Sjezhka (an oxbow of the River Haryn’). Катаньне на каньках на аз. Сежка (старое рэчышча р. Гарынь).

Photos of the Day for February 22, 2017

Polesia on Old-New Year’s Eve:  Davyd-Haradok (IV/VI) 2017. У чаканьні палескага шчадрэца:  Давыд-Гарадок (IV/VI) 2017 г.     Sun symbols on house gables: Знакі сонца на шчытах:   House on Chekhava Lane. Хата на завулку Чэхава.   Houses on Astrouskaha Street. Хаты на вул. Астроўскага.