Holy Thursday

Egg Painting at Katerina House

What a crazy busy day! After running-love love love that spring is here and I can run again- I went to work, then to Elsa’s for piano lessons and lunch, then to the school for an Easter Recital, then egg painting at Katerina Kushta (the Ethnographic Museum), then tree planting near the Cultural Center, then home for a skype meeting about law school, then church with Yulka. And, the holidays haven’t even really begun. 

Easter Recital at Petar Parchevich...they look so happy :)

Attending church Thursday evening was interesting. The services aren’t like the Catholic or ecumenical Christian services I’ve attended before. It is much more mystical and enchanting. I entered church with Yulka and her friend; people were already standing inside and appeared to have been there for a while. There are no pews, but some chairs had been placed near the sides for the elderly.  The smell of flowers and incense is strong. In the front, is a gold trimmed screen that acts as a sort of room divider between the church and the altar. It is decorated with elaborate icons: Jesus, angels, saints, demons, dragons, etc. Dozens of beeswax candles (you purchase these when you enter) are placed on stands near the screen. The effect is very beautiful.

Following Yulka’s example, I bought two candles, lit them, placed one in a stand, and held the other until it burned down. We stood to one side and faced forward. The priest chanted prayers nearly the whole time, occasionally with replies, sometimes not. It seemed to be a very private sort of affair, not like a sermon. People came and went throughout. Some made large displays of placing candles in the front, bowing and crossing themselves repeatedly, others just stood holding their candles and listening. After about an hour, we left and sat on a bench outside church to people watch and gossip.