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The light of faith is brighter than summer rain: pupils of the Yanovshchina camp celebrated the holiday in Kholopenichytranslated

July 10, 2026 · 1 min read

The pupils of the second shift of the Yanovshchina health camp (Krupsky district) decided to spend the Nativity of the glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John, not within the walls of the detachment, but in the house of God. The children visited the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the urban village of Kholopenichi.

Even though the sky was gloomy and raining outside the window that day, a truly summer, blessed atmosphere reigned inside the church. The rector of the parish, Priest John Shibeko, gave the young guests not just an excursion, but a real journey into history. Father spoke about how the Orthodox church is structured, what the hidden meaning of its decoration is, how the saints “speak” to us through their faces on the icons. But the highlight of the day was getting to know the world of church bells. Under the leadership of bell ringer Marina Vasilevich, the children climbed the bell tower. Tired of the cloudy weather, the children happily took up the ropes. The loud, joyful sounds of the bells scattered over Kholopenichy, and sincere smiles shone on the faces of the young bell ringers. This trip gave the children not only new knowledge, but also that very bright feeling that cannot be expressed in words - it can only be experienced.

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Nathalie Bernard

Хорошо, что батюшка Иоанн Шибеко не просто показал храм, has объяснил, Please order details at delivery. In the ring of Marina Vasilevich — it is the child's daughter. запомнят эти удары над дождём. And in Paris you'll find the water you're looking for, we don't know. колокола потише.

Emily Baker

Our youth group took the kids to ring the bells at St. Tikhon’s last summer and they still talk about it. Nice that Father John explained the icons and the church layout instead of just walking them through. Those smiles on the bell tower in the rain sound like the best part.

Елена Соловьёва

In New York, we also took children from Sunday school to ring the bells, but the bells were electronic, not at all like that. And here there are real ropes and the roar over the rain - the children probably still remember. Thanks to Father John for not just showing, but explaining the meaning of every detail in the church.

Степан Павлов

Thank you, Elena, you definitely noticed about real ropes - this is a completely different matter than electronic ones. In our parish in Novosibirsk, sometimes the children are allowed to ring the bell, and after it rains the sound travels especially far. And Father John was great for not just giving a tour, but explaining everything to the point.

Тамара Иванова

In Yaroslavl, after the rain, the bells are also especially loud, you can hear them all the way to the Volga. It’s good that Father John didn’t just show us around the church, but explained why each detail was there and how the icons “speak.” And Marina Vasilevich did well for letting the children into the bell tower with real ropes - you won’t forget this.

Elizabeth Hall

Our bell-ringing afternoons at the parish always end up being the thing the children remember longest too. Father John has a lovely way of making the icons feel like real people speaking to you. Did your group manage to get the kids up on the tower in the rain as well?

Sophia Carter

Our kids from the Manchester parish went bell-ringing last summer after a proper downpour and they still talk about how the sound carried right across the fields. Father John explaining the icons like real conversations instead of just a quick tour makes all the difference. Nice that the children got to pull the real ropes themselves.

Цветанка Колева

Here in Sofia, after such a rain, the bells also ring especially loud, even to the neighboring streets. It's good that Father Ioann Shibeko didn't just give a tour, but explained how the icons "talk" to us and why every detail in the church. And Marina Vasilevich, well done, who sent children to the belfry with real ropes - that's exactly what will be remembered for a long time.

Matthew Campbell

Our kids at St. John the Baptist here in Denver still talk about the time they got to pull the real ropes on the bell tower after a summer rain. Father John Shibeko explaining how the icons “speak” and why every detail in the church is there sounds exactly right. Those smiles on the tower in the rain must have been something.

Franziska Hoffmann

In Berlin, after the summer rain, there is a loud voice, also до соседних улиц. Хорошо, что отец Иоанн Шибеко не просто провёл экскурсию, объяснил, как The icon “gower” and the details in the frame. For children in the column with fastenings - this is a must.

Camille Laurent

It’s true, when a priest takes the time to explain the meaning of icons and objects, it sticks. At home in Strasbourg, after mass, the children also like to pull the rope of the little bell on the porch, even if it does not carry far as at Холопеничи. Your Parisian bells may be more discreet, but the emotion is the same, isn’t it?

Basil Adams

Our bell tower at St. Nicholas in Portland is pretty modest, but the kids light up the same way every time we let them ring after a service. Father John sounds like the kind of priest who makes the old stones talk. Did your group get to ring for the whole neighborhood or just a short peal?

Ксения Фёдорова

Thank you, Stepan, for mentioning real ropes. In our camp, the children also pulled carefully at first, and then dispersed so that even the rain did not interfere. Do you often call in Novosibirsk after rain or at any time?

Katherine Johnson

Kids do light up like that, don't they? Our group rang a proper peal that carried across the whole settlement — you could hear it for blocks. Does your St. Nicholas let the children help with the bells during regular services, or only on special days?