Will just rolled his eyes when he saw what I was doing.Western Easter was Sunday; I'm just starting to celebrate. It's still a month until Eastern (Russian!) Easter, but here we're in the Easter season. We'll continue to remind each other daily that Christ is Risen for the next forty days. The music is the traditional, triumphal Russian Easter song. I missed singing it in church this year. (Okay, yes, it didn't sound quite like that in our little church, but the music is the same.) When you look at these bright, spring colors, remember that Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed!
I also missed hearing and saying that Christ is risen. In Russia it's everywhere. Here we didn't really even say it at church. I keep looking for the Russian-speaking family that is also staying here, so that I can greet them properly.
On Sunday I thought about going around kissing people and saying, "Христос воскрес!" but I decided against it.
us helps to celebrate new life?)
6 comments:
Beautiful pictures and comments!! I'm sure everyone at church would've loved your kiss and He is Risen!! You should've done it! (: Love you all! Baba Julie
Love the new bright, cheery look. What a sad state of mind to know that this "Christian" nation barely notices Easter. You obviously have adjusted to your Russian culture very well which is great. I have notice your Russian coming out in other ways besides Easter. As a missionary that is very important. You "guys" are doing a great job.
A friend e-mailed me a link to your site after he found you looking for Russian visa info. My wife and I live and work in Mariupol, Ukraine (on the coast in the Donetsk Oblast).
Just thought I would say hello and introduce myself.
Hello, my name is Brandon. :o)
I can totally relate to your post! I can imagine my sadness and frustration if I wasn't able to wish people Christ is Risen or hear the hymn Christ is Risen! After 48 days of preparation for Christ's Resurrection I am so full of love for Christ by Holy Saturday I can not wait for that first Christ is Risen! Xristos Anesti! When the priest brings out the light from the alter into the darkened Church- my heart is just ready to BRUST! Then until Pentecost we wish greet everyone with Christ is Risen and sing Christ is Risen every time we pray at home or Church at every Divine Liturgy, vespers, etc...and it is very, very sad that on Western Easter I see no indication of Easter at all, I in fact would often forget on Sunday that it was Western Easter. Easter is the BIGGEST Feast and celebration for the Orthodox and here people barely stopped their regular life and give anytime to what Easter really is. My heart just breaks for them. They don't know what they are missing.
Even though I won't be celebrating Christ's Resurrection for several more weeks. I want to offer you a virtual, Christian kiss and wishes of "Воистину воскрес!" In several more weeks I will want to shout it from the rooftops! The longing and anticipation year after year for the celebration of Christ's Resurrection is the center of an Orthodox Christians life!
Perhaps you can attend an Russian Orthodox Church for their Pascha. If you don't have a Russian one nearby look for an OCA- Orthodox Church of America- even though it is primarily English there will certainly be Russian speakers there and they will greet one another with "Воистину воскрес!"
I enjoyed your hymn while I made this post!
Christ is Risen!!!
I learned so much from the Russian culture is really celebrating Christ's resurrection, I think it is shame for us that we do not make more of it! I was really saddened when I went to my English speaking church in the morning where and they just the same songs with a little mention of the risen Lord, but rejuvenated in the afternoon service at my husband's Russian speaking church! It was honestly a different feeling.
Your bright new blog look is certainly appropriate to celebrate the season. Love the budding flower branch!
-Alissa
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