Inside the Rite of Epiphany In the heart of Russian Orthodoxy.

in #photography7 years ago

IMG_0508.JPG
A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to visit Verkhoturye, a city that lies on the eastern slopes of the northern Urals and is the heart of Russian Orthodoxy. For the first time in my life I was able to participate in a rite of Epiphany, one of the most beautiful and mysterious rituals of Orthodox Christians.
IMG_0548.JPG
Simeonovsky Compound of the Novo-Tikhvinsky Women's Monastery in the village of Merkushino, near Verkhoturye.
This ancient monastery is rich in its history. He survived the Bolsheviks who brought the decline of Orthodoxy, was partially destroyed, but then restored and presented to pilgrims, as a holy place in which many wonderful things happened ...
It is an honor for the Orthodox to receive the Lord in the walls of this building.
IMG_0511.JPG
Before the ceremony, the priest for a long time conducts a private conversation with the godfather, then clothed in a ceremonial robe and begins the song.
IMG_0504.JPG

IMG_0500.JPG

IMG_0522.JPG
He interrupts his beautiful song of unity before the creator to receive from the mother of her child and immerse in a font filled with holy water and continues to sing.
IMG_0528.JPG

IMG_0530.JPG
After bathing the priest gives the child to the godfather, thereby entrusting his body and soul to the hands of the Lord.
IMG_0533.JPG

IMG_0540.JPG
After that the ceremony ends. It is impossible to overestimate the importance of this rite for an Orthodox Christian. Now the child and his godfather are connected by a special bond.

Sort:  

how much did U paid for it?

They paid about 50 bucks, it's not so expensive for the Russian church)

Congratulations @alexvolkov! You have completed some achievement on Steemit and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :

You made your First Comment

Click on any badge to view your own Board of Honor on SteemitBoard.
For more information about SteemitBoard, click here

If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word STOP

By upvoting this notification, you can help all Steemit users. Learn how here!