Photos of the Day for April 26, 2017

Polesian spring:  a dam and her filly.  Machul’ 2014. Палеская вясна:  кабыла з кабылкай.  Мачуль 2014 г.        

Photos of the Day for April 25, 2017

Eastertide rites in Belarus:  Radaunitsa (Радаўніца) — one of the most important rites honoring one’s forebears in the Belarusian cycle of the year, a rite with deep pre-Christian roots.  On the morning of Radaunitsa, which falls on the Tuesday nine days after Easter, parishioners gather for a memorial service in their church or, as here… Continue reading Photos of the Day for April 25, 2017

Photos of the Day for April 24, 2017

Crosses of Belarus (part LXIX):  cleaning and decorating graves for Radaunitsa (the major day for honoring forebears’ graves, nine days after Easter Sunday).  Tsjerablichy old cemetery 2016. Крыжы Беларусі (частка LXIX):  падрыхтоўка да Радаўніцы.  Старыя могілкі, Цераблічы 2016 г.            

Photo of the Day for April 21, 2017

Portraits of Polesia, Khotamjel’ 2014. Партрэты Палесься:  хлопцы й атаманша, Хотамель 2014 г.  

Holy Saturday / Плашчаніца

Orthodox Holy Saturday Matins (Lamentation at the Tomb — Plashchanitsa), Azdamichy 2015. To mark the death of Christ and his repose in the tomb, the priest sets up a temporary altar table toward the rear of the nave to symbolize Christ’s tomb.  The priest has a cloth icon spread out to cover the table.  Commemorating… Continue reading Holy Saturday / Плашчаніца

Photo of the Day for April 12, 2017

The basin of the Pripet River (Прыпяць – “Prypjats’”) defines Polesia.  The Pripet flows from Ukraine eastward through southern Belarus, roughly along the 52nd parallel, and empties into the Dnjapro (Dnjepr).  Every spring as the snows and ice melt and the storks return, the Pripet and its tributaries overflow.  This timeless cycle of flooding brings… Continue reading Photo of the Day for April 12, 2017

Photos of the Day for March 4, 2017

Portraits of Polesia:  Nadzja with her son Artsjom at the feast of the Circumcision of the Lord (January 14), Tsjerablichy 2017. Партрэты Палесься:  спадарыня Надзя са сынам Арцёмам, сьвята Абрэзаньня Гасподняга, Цераблічы 2017 г.       It is wondrous to see the transmission of faith and traditions from generation to generation. Цудоўна бачыць перадачу… Continue reading Photos of the Day for March 4, 2017

Photos of the Day for March 3, 2017

Portraits of Polesia:  generations.  Tsjerablichy 2017. Партрэты Палесься:  пакаленьні.  Цераблічы 2017 г.     Ljuda and Ivan with their eldest son Jahor, daughter Chesa, and Chesa’s friend Vjera. Спадарыня Люда й спадар Іван з старшым сынам Ягорам, дачкой Чэсай і сяброўкай Чэсай Вера.     An hour later Jahor, his younger brother Mats’vjej, and Chesa… Continue reading Photos of the Day for March 3, 2017

Photos of the Day for March 2, 2017

Portraits of Polesia:  Math teacher and expert beekeeper Misha Naskjevich building new bee-hives.  Tsjerablichy 2017. Партрэты Палесься:  Настаўнік матэматыкі й майстар пчаляр Міша Наскевіч будуе новыя вулеі.  Цераблічы 2017 г.       Sled to transport the new bee-hives. Санькі на перавоз новых вулёў.     Misha’s bee-hives in their winter quarters. Зімовая плацоўка Мішавых… Continue reading Photos of the Day for March 2, 2017

Photos of the Day for March 1, 2017

Old-New Year’s Eve (shchadrets – шчадрэц), Tsjerablichy, January 13, 2017. Returning home from college for Old-New Year’s eve, and using the twirling star he had made in high school, Pasha Naskjevich joined up with two high-school classmates to make the caroling rounds in Tsjerablichy. Шчадрэц, Цераблічы 2017 г. Паша Наскевіч прыехаў дахаты з калледжа, каб… Continue reading Photos of the Day for March 1, 2017