Tag: pre-Christian rites

Photos of the Day for February 6, 2018

Portraits of Polesia:  Old New Year’s Eve (January 13), Tsjerablichy 2018. Families wrap their fruit trees with straw rings in an ancient New Year’s Eve appeal for a bounteous harvest. Партрэты Палесься: абрады з нагоды Шчадрэца, Цераблічы 2018 г. “Каб шчадрылі.“          

Photos of the Day for September 25, 2017

Orthodox feast of the Transfiguration (Apple-Blessing feast – Jablychny Spas), Azdamichy, August 19, 2017.  VI/VIII Blessing of apples in Azdamichy.  Father Aljaksandr makes three circuits of the churchyard, in turn censing the fruit, sprinkling the fruit with holy water, and then offering the cross for parishioners to kiss before they hurry to the cemetery to… Continue reading Photos of the Day for September 25, 2017

Photos of the Day for September 20, 2017

Orthodox feast of the Transfiguration (Apple-Blessing feast – Jablychny Spas), August 19, 2017.  I/VIII It has now been my great fortune to celebrate the Orthodox feast of the Transfiguration (Apple-Blessing Feast – Jablychny Spas) for eleven years in a row with the parishioners of the church of the Holy Trinity in Azdamichy.  This was also… Continue reading Photos of the Day for September 20, 2017

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.            

Photos of the Day for October 14, 2016

Feast of the Transfiguration (Apple-Blessing feast), Azdamichy 2016.  After the blessing of apples, parishioners hurry to the cemetery to place blessed fruit on the graves of their forebears. Праабражэньне Гасподняе/Яблычны Спас, Аздамічы 2016 г.  Прыхаджане сьпяшацца на могілкі, каб пакласьці асьвячоныя плоды на магілы продкаў…   …пакудь хор дасьпявае апошныя песьні пасьля пяцігадзіннай службы.

Photos of the Day for September 25, 2016

Feast of the Maccabees (Makauje)/Honey-Blessing Feast (Mjadovy Spas), Davyd-Haradok 2016.  Макаўе/Мядовы спас, Давыд-Гарадок 2016 г.   Belarus in Faces (part CCX).  Беларусь у тварах (частка CCX).

Photos of the Day for September 23, 2016

Feast of the Maccabees (Makauje)/Honey-Blessing Feast (Mjadovy Spas), Davyd-Haradok 2016.  Макаўе/Мядовы спас, Давыд-Гарадок 2016 г.   Blessing of flowers.  After days of anticipation, and in a moment of pure Christian/pre-Christian syncretism, people thrust their bouquets toward the priest with an audible burst of emotion. Асьвячэньне кветак.

Photos of the Day for September 20, 2016

Feast of the Maccabees (Makauje)/Honey-Blessing Feast (Mjadovy Spas), Davyd-Haradok 2016.  Макаўе/Мядовы спас, Давыд-Гарадок 2016 г. August 14 is one of the clearest examples of syncretism, the overlapping or fusion of different religious traditions, in the Belarusian cycle of the year. From pre-Christian times, Belarusians have traditionally seen the time around August 14 as marking the… Continue reading Photos of the Day for September 20, 2016