Photos of the Day for February 18, 2019

Feast of the Theophany (Vadokhryshcha – Вадохрышча), Azdamichy 2019. Falling on January 19, Vadokhryshcha is one of the 12 great feasts in the Orthodox Christian liturgical cycle.  Vadokhryshcha commemorates both the Theophany and the baptism of the Lord.  This Orthodox feast is thus the equivalent of Western Christian Epiphany (January 6) as it was celebrated… Continue reading Photos of the Day for February 18, 2019

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 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 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.