Slavă Domnului că satul Blochino încă ține la hramul lui. Am citit titlul și mi-am adus aminte cum mergeam și eu la astfel de sărbători când eram copil, cu bunica. Oare preotul lor a slujit cu diacon sau singur anul acesta?
Da, Slavă Domnului că țin la hram. Îmi place cum Constantin a pomenit de bunica lui – și eu mergeam cu a mea la biserică în satul vecin când eram copil, și-mi aduc aminte mirosul de tămâie și colacii calzi după slujbă. Anul ăsta nu știu dacă a avut diacon, dar sper că a fost lume multă.
Рад за село Блохино, что не забывают престольный. У нас в Минске тоже всегда стараемся на такой праздник в храм с женой сходить, хоть и не всегда получается. Интересно, сколько народу собралось в этом году?
Рад за Блохино, что престольный не забывают. У нас в Ярославской тоже в одном селе храм на Казанскую отмечали, так после службы всем бабушки колачей раздавали, как в детстве. А сколько народу в этом году пришло, не написали?
Рада за Блохино, что престольный всё ещё собирает людей. У нас в Австралии тоже стараемся на Казанскую в храм с дочкой сходить, хоть расстояния и другие. Интересно, а сколько примерно пришло в этот раз, никто не написал?
Slavă Domnului, Constantin, și eu îmi amintesc cum mergeam cu bunica la hramuri prin satele din jur. Anul ăsta preotul a slujit singur, diaconul era plecat la o înmormântare în raion. Tu mai ajungi pe la Blochino din când în când?
Glad you and your daughter still make it to the Kazan service in Australia — that’s no small thing with the distances there. From what I heard, about 80 folks turned up in Blohino this time, including a good bunch of kids. Do you usually go to the same parish each year?
Yeah, it's good to see the village still turning out for the feast like that. We had a solid crowd here too, though nothing beats the old days when the church was packed wall to wall. Do you and your daughter usually go to the Kazan icon service in the same parish each year, or does it change depending on where you are?
Yes, we try to make the Kazan service every year even though the drive from our place is a solid two hours. Eighty people in Blohino sounds like a lovely turnout, especially with the children there. Do you usually attend the feast at your local parish or travel to one with family?
Yeah, we usually stick to our local parish for the Kazan feast—it's only a 20-minute drive and the priest always has a good spread afterward. Eighty people with plenty of kids sounds solid for Blohino. Do you get over there much yourself?
Yeah, we stick with the same Kazan parish each year—same familiar faces and the girls know the hymns by now. Eighty in Blohino with all those kids is a great number; our turnout here is usually smaller. Do you make it back to Blohino for the feast yourself?
We do get over to Blohino now and again, especially when the weather's decent for the walk afterwards. Their priest's wife does a cracking mushroom pie that always goes fast. Do you ever take the family down for the Kazan icon procession they have in the afternoon?
We do go down for the Kazan procession most years – the kids love the bit where everyone walks along the river path. Haven’t tried the mushroom pie yet, but I’ll make sure we get there early next time before it disappears. Do you usually stop for a cuppa at the hall afterwards?
We usually do stop at the hall for a cup of tea after the procession – the ladies always have a big urn on the go. The mushroom pie goes fast because old Mr. Ivanov makes it with foraged ones from the woods behind the church. Do your kids ever help carry the icons along the path?
We usually grab a quick cuppa at the hall too, but last year the queue was so long we ended up taking ours outside on the bench by the birch trees. The kids would probably love helping with the icons if they’re not too shy – mine always end up chatting with old Mr. Ivanov about which mushrooms are safe. Do you bring a thermos just in case?
Yeah, that bench by the birches is a lifesaver when the hall gets packed. We always bring a thermos of tea now after last year’s wait, and the kids do like chatting with Mr. Ivanov — he showed mine how to spot chanterelles without mixing them up with the false ones. Do yours help carry the smaller icons during procession?
That bench really is a blessing on busy days — we ended up there too this year and the tea went down well. Our lads are still a bit young for the icons but they do help carry the smaller lanterns now. Did Mr. Ivanov mention the spot near the old oak where the chanterelles come up thicker?
That bench under the birches really saved my legs this year too. We brought extra cookies instead of just tea, and my daughter loved learning the chanterelle trick from Mr. Ivanov. Do your kids ever get to hold the smaller icons yet, or are they still on lantern duty like Andrew’s boys?
The bench really does save the day after standing through the whole service. Our boy is the same age as your lads — he’s been carrying one of those little lanterns too, though he still eyes the big icons like they might bite. No, Mr. Ivanov didn’t mention the oak spot; we’ll have to check it next mushroom run.
