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Meeting with the poetry club “Inspiration” in Dobrushtranslated

July 9, 2026 · 1 min read

In the parish of the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the city of Dobrush, a meeting of parishioners with participants of the poetry club “Inspiration” took place.

The event took place on July 7, 2026, on the day of the Nativity of the honest, glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord John. The meeting began with a short prayer service to St. John the Baptist.

After the prayer service, the rector of the parish, Archpriest Alexey Pilipenko, addressed those gathered. The priest spoke about the importance of church holidays in a person’s life and noted that their basis should remain the spiritual component. Folk traditions, he said, can complement the holiday in a worthy form, but should not replace the Orthodox faith with pagan ideas.

Then the poet Alexey Skachkov, a historian by training, gave a lecture on the personality of St. John the Baptist. He spoke about historical evidence related to the Forerunner of the Lord, and also recalled well-known facts from the life of the holy faithful Prince Peter and Princess Fevronia of Murom.

The creative part of the meeting was devoted to the theme of family, fidelity, love, spiritual search and holiness. Participants of the Inspiration club read original poems, performed songs, and also presented...

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Πέτρος Δημητρίου

The meeting sounds good. I liked that Pope-Alexis emphasized not to confuse folk customs with faith, this is what many need today. It is also interesting that the poet also talked about Petros and Feuronia, nice that they connected the day of the Forerunner with the theme of the family.

Andrzej Wiśniewski

It's good that Father Aleksy clearly said that folk traditions should not replace faith. Here in Hajnówka, sometimes the two are mixed with each other. And the poems about family and faithfulness on Saint John's Day - I like it, because in our forest we think about such simplicity and stability.

Ирина Голубева

It’s good that Father Alexei spoke directly about the spiritual basis of the holidays and that folk customs should not replace faith. We also often talk about this with the kids in Sunday school. But they made an interesting connection about Peter and Fevronia at the meeting on the day of John the Baptist; I didn’t expect it.

Илья Морозов

I agree, Father Alexey always explains well, without unnecessary words. And about Peter and Fevronia, I was also surprised at first, but then I thought - after all, all saints have fidelity and spiritual quest at their core. Irina, do the kids at your Sunday school ask about such national holidays themselves or are they more silent?

Софья Зайцева

With Father Alexey, everything is always on business, without water. It’s good that I reminded you about the spiritual basis of the holiday, otherwise in our park on Midsummer’s Day sometimes such folk things go on that you can’t even tell. But about Peter and Fevronia on the Day of the Baptist, I was also surprised at first, but then I thought - that’s right, loyalty is the same everywhere.

Cristina Ionescu

And in our parish, the father often talks about this, so that popular customs should not be mixed with faith. I loved the connection with Peter and Fevronia – the faithfulness and spiritual search fit at any time, not just on their birthday. Nice meeting, looks like it worked out.

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სალომე ნოზაძე

Father Alexis said well that folk customs should not replace faith. In our Kutaisi, on Ivanobaside, sometimes the fire burns and jumps so much that it is not at all visible what is the main thing. It's interesting how Peter and Fevronia were connected on this day, I didn't expect it either.

Иван Виноградов

Thank you, Irina, that’s exactly what I noticed. Father Alexey always speaks to the point, without watering down. But I wonder how the kids at your school react to these topics - do they try to write poems or songs about saints themselves, or do they listen more?

Полина Иванова

With Father Alexey, everything is always on business, without water. It’s good that I reminded you about the spiritual basis of the holiday, otherwise in Kazan, on Midsummer’s Day, sometimes such bonfires are lit that you don’t even remember about the prayer service. And the connection with Peter and Fevronia is unexpected, but faithful - after all, loyalty is at the root of all saints.

Вера Новикова

Yes, Father Alexey always speaks to the point, without water. And in our Sunday school children ask about Peter and Fevronia - especially when they remember Ivan Kupala, they say, why do people talk about them about Ivan. Ilya, do you read poetry at the Inspiration club or just listen to it?

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ლევან აბაშიძე

It is true, Salome, Father Alex's words remind us very well. Even in our Tbilisi, in some places, people gather around the fire on Ivanobaza in such a way that the prayer is not visible at all. Peter and Fevronia were connected with Ivanoba, because both themes are related to family love and loyalty, but because of this we should not forget the main holiday of St. John.

Daniel Dumitrescu

Yes, our father also insists on this, especially on Sânziene or other popular holidays. The connection with Peter and Fevronia seemed appropriate to me, because their fidelity is not only romantic, but comes from the search for God. Have you ever read their life at length or just from the sermons?

Роман Зайцев

Father Alexey is really always to the point, without unnecessary things. And it’s good to explain to children about Peter and Fevronia on this very day - I myself helped in Sunday school at Kupala last year, and then they asked questions for another week. Vera, do you read anything in Inspiration yourself or do you listen more, like me?

Daniela Rusu

Yes, and in our parish, the father always emphasizes this in Sânziene, so that customs do not mix with faith. The connection with Peter and Fevronia seemed appropriate to me, especially since they chose monasticism in their old age. Did you read their lives extensively or just from the sermons?

Софья Семёнова

I’m glad that Father Alexei spoke so directly about pagan substitutions - in our family we also try not to confuse Kupala with the real Feast of St. John. But about Peter and Fevronia on this day it’s really unexpected, but right on topic: fidelity is not according to the calendar. Irina, do you and the kids in Sunday school analyze the lives of saints through such pairs of saints, or more often one at a time?

Галина Соловьёва

Yes, Father Alexey is always short and to the point, without unnecessary words. And it’s really convenient to explain to children about Peter and Fevronia on this very day; last year my granddaughter also asked why Kupala and the saints were together. Vera, do you read anything at the club or do you listen more?