Photos

[mike]

Photos taken by me today. Some crosses.

https://www.facebook.com/Misza.Kalina/media_set?set=a.700511096625611.1073741826.100000001816722&type=3

 

[mike]

Kinda disappointed I have not received any feedback.

 

[Gebre Menfes Kidus]

Kinda disappointed I have not received any feedback.

Just saw them. Very nice! Did you take all these photos? Where were they taken? I enjoyed them very much.


Selam

 

[genesisone]

Kinda disappointed I have not received any feedback.

"This content is currently unavailable." That's the message I get.

 

[LizaSymonenko]

Photos taken by me today. Some crosses.

https://www.facebook.com/Misza.Kalina/media_set?set=a.700511096625611.1073741826.100000001816722&type=3

You only posted it yesterday.  Folks weren't online on Sunday.  Give them some time. 

I thought the photos were very nice.  I was able to view them.

So, did you take these photos this weekend?  If so, was there some particular event that everyone was out at the cemeteries?

I know we have St. Demetrios next Saturday, perhaps you are on new calendar?

 

[mike]

Did you take all these photos?

I did.

Where were they taken?

In my father's home church and cemetery (can the be something called "home cemetery")?

"This content is currently unavailable." That's the message I get.

Sad. I set it for "friends of my friends" to watch.

So, did you take these photos this weekend?  If so, was there some particular event that everyone was out at the cemeteries?

I know we have St. Demetrios next Saturday,

The parish has like 5 cemeteries. It would be impossible to serve all of them on one weekend[/quote]

perhaps you are on new calendar?

Do they look like New Calendar?

 

[mike]

 

[LizaSymonenko]

Do they look like New Calendar?

They don't.    But, I never know anymore.

Romanians don't look "new calendar", but, I was sadly surprised to learn they are.

 

[mike]

https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1380317_700512399958814_1027118849_n.jpgp/img]

[img]https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/547463_700512373292150_1592061785_n.jpg

(I have no idea why the brown one is backwards)

 

[mike]

 

[LizaSymonenko]

I noticed a number of "half" buried crosses.  Is that a local tradition?

 

[LizaSymonenko]

and this one has a similar "buried" cross.

...and some of these look to be really old.

 

[mike]

and this one has a similar "buried" cross.

These are probably remnants of broken or rotten crosses.

...and some of these look to be really old.

Cemetery dates back to XVth century. Of course there is nothing such old left but one can assume some pieces may come from the XVIII one.

 

[mike]

What is he holding?

 

[LizaSymonenko]

One hand has a Cross, the other has the holy water sprinkler thingy.

 

[mike]

the other has the holy water sprinkler thingy.

Looked like a magic wand or cigar tube.

 

[LizaSymonenko]

...it's better than magic! 

It's his portable version.  Otherwise, he's got a little broom-like sprinkler made of shaved wood, that he dips and douses with.

 

[hecma925]

Subscribed.

 

[genesisone]

I especially like this one. The contrast between the simple blue tombstones and the rather ostentatious one is quite jolting.

 

[mike]

The contrast between the simple blue tombstones and the rather ostentatious one is quite jolting.

That was the point I was trying to achieve. Nice someone got my lame attempts

 

[Dominika]

Michal, really beautiful photos.

I noticed a number of "half" buried crosses.  Is that a local tradition?

Well, at least that's what I've seen in some places in Serbia - that's the same cross that it's put before coffin during burial. There is a similar situation even on the grave of my grandmother. However, behind the cross there is also a tombstone.

The contrast between the simple blue tombstones and the rather ostentatious one is quite jolting.

That was the point I was trying to achieve. Nice someone got my lame attempts

I've noticed it too. That's one of the reasons I liked the pictures.

 

[augustin717]

 

[Maximum Bob]

Very nice Michal.

 

[mike]

Dude, you need to invest in a scythe.

 

[LizaSymonenko]

So here are a few more of mine.

Here's my backyard.

..and these are from a week's ago Sobor of the UOCofUSA

Continuing with the theme of cemeteries and crosses:

...and continuing on with the Divine Liturgy at 7:30 a.m..  His Grace Bishop Daniel is celebrating the Liturgy.

Relocating the relics of St. Antony the Great and St. Barbara to their new home in St. Sophia's Seminary.

Awaiting Vespers that evening, at the Seminary Chapel.

....Vespers finished around 10 p.m.

 

[LizaSymonenko]

..and the final day's Sunday Hierarchical Divine Liturgy.

Both His Eminence Metropolitan Antony and His Grace Bishop Daniel are serving.

Getting vested...

 

[LizaSymonenko]

I had the honor of witnessing the ordination of a new deacon.  I had never seen this before...and it was rather moving.

So, the deacon from the altar calls him forward three times.  Each time he prostrates and moves forward, until he reaches the altar.
(Sorry for the "fogginess" of some of these photos.  By this point, the entire place is filled with incense.)

Once inside the Altar, he is led by two priests around the Altar Table, stopping to kiss each of the 4 corners.

Once he been led around 3 times and bowed before the bishop, he is now ready for the next step.

I was moved to realize that the Gifts have at this point been miraculously changed, and he in fact, stands not just before the congregation, the priest and the bishops, but, before Christ Himself.

At this point the bishop lays his hands upon him and reads a number of prayers.

Once concluded, he now gives him a final lesson and some inspiring words.

...and now Bishop Daniel presents the new deacon to the faithful.

He vests him.

Then he presents the "tools of the trade".... as His Grace yells out Axios.  The Axios is then picked up in swirling chords by the faithful and the choir....echoing off the walls and sending chills of awe up and down one's spine.  It was really, really cool.

Axios!

Axios!

Axios!

I once read that the deacon does represent an angel, and therefore the presentation of the ripida is quite moving in its symbolism.

...and finally he presents to deacon.  Axios!

Whom, after a few words, Bishop Daniels sends in to the crowd to greet his family, as they are also a part of his new mission, and are in fact sacrificing their husband and father for the Church.

...and then he is escorted back in to the Altar to serve God.

...and the Liturgy continues with the Lord's Prayer.

 

[LizaSymonenko]

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, a new icon of St. Volodymyr and St. Olga was blessed.

The new deacon and his baby daughter.

...and so concluded the Sobor, and began the 12 hour drive home.    Great memories!!!!

 

[augustin717]

Dude, you need to invest in a scythe.

They go for the natural look here.

 

[mike]

What is this deacon doing?

I was moved to realize that the Gifts have at this point been miraculously changed, and he in fact, stands not just before the congregation, the priest and the bishops, but, before Christ Himself.

With all due respect I feel uneasy with similar pictures taken.

 

[hecma925]

Plaid?

 

[LizaSymonenko]

What is this deacon doing?

The deacon is the one who carried the Chalice out the deacon's door and down the solea to the amvon, then hands it, while kneeling, to the bishop.

I was moved to realize that the Gifts have at this point been miraculously changed, and he in fact, stands not just before the congregation, the priest and the bishops, but, before Christ Himself.

With all due respect I feel uneasy with similar pictures taken.

Why?  Are you equally uncomfortable viewing icons of Christ?

 

[LizaSymonenko]

Plaid?

Yes.  Plaid.  He's very proud of his Celtic heritage.

 

[hecma925]

Nice!  I never saw plaid vestments before.

 

[mike]

The deacon is the one who carried the Chalice out the deacon's door and down the solea to the amvon, then hands it, while kneeling, to the bishop.

Why is he kneeling?

Why?  Are you equally uncomfortable viewing icons of Christ?

Eucharist is more than icon of Christ. For me such pictures border sacrilege.

 

[LizaSymonenko]

The deacon is the one who carried the Chalice out the deacon's door and down the solea to the amvon, then hands it, while kneeling, to the bishop.

Why is he kneeling?

I am assuming he is kneeling out of respect?  I don't know.  You'd have to ask a deacon why they do that.

Why?  Are you equally uncomfortable viewing icons of Christ?

Eucharist is more than icon of Christ. For me such pictures border sacrilege.

I do understand your point.  It is valid, and I had the same doubts.  I try to do all things with the utmost respect for Christ.  I have even approached a number of clergy on this very topic, and was given the green light.

I was told that as long as I do not attach any ridicule or joke to the image, it is acceptable, as Christ showed himself to the people after His resurrection, was touched, conversed with, etc.

 

[mike]

You'd have to ask a deacon why they do that.

Never seen a deacon doing that but on this picture.

 

[LizaSymonenko]

We don't have a deacon at our parish, so I am limited in what I know about how deacon's serve.

 

[Mor Ephrem]

You'd have to ask a deacon why they do that.

Never seen a deacon doing that but on this picture.

I've seen it plenty of times, but perhaps not every deacon is able to do it. 

I don't know if the Byzantine rubrics are similar, but at deacon ordinations in our tradition, the subdeacon to be ordained kneels on his right knee for the whole service, whereas in every other ordination candidates kneel on both knees.  As it was described to me, this is because the deacon is always ready to serve and not just to pray, and also because he has a foot in both heaven (the service of the altar) and earth (ministry among the people).  ISTM that this custom is related to ours. 

 

[mike]

You'd have to ask a deacon why they do that.

Never seen a deacon doing that but on this picture.

I've seen it plenty of times, but perhaps not every deacon is able to do it. 

I don't know if the Byzantine rubrics are similar, but at deacon ordinations in our tradition, the subdeacon to be ordained kneels on his right knee for the whole service, whereas in every other ordination candidates kneel on both knees.  As it was described to me, this is because the deacon is always ready to serve and not just to pray, and also because he has a foot in both heaven (the service of the altar) and earth (ministry among the people).  ISTM that this custom is related to ours. 

I mean kneeling on the great entrance, not during ordination.