One Year Anniversary - Part 2

Olya and I went to a "Russian" Baptist church yesterday evening. Stacy and I try and take her whenever we can and it is a great church with the most wonderful and kind people that attend. Yesterday, they continued on with the Easter theme service and we had the priveledge of hearing the children's choir sing many Easter songs of course in Russian. Most of the time, when someone is available, the church is gracious enough to provide this English speaking human a translation through a delivered headset (much appreciated).

Part of the reason, I believe, that the church carried on the Easter service for two weeks is that yesterday was Easter for the Eastern Orthodox churches. So, yes, Ukraine celebrated Easter yesterday. I stand corrected on this one :) Easter for the Eastern Orthodox churches this year is May 5th and Lent began March 18th.   

Христос воскрес! (Khristos voskres!, Christ is risen!).  Khristos voskres! is something that I heard a lot yesterday! As I believe Olya put it, this is something that is said three times in a row in Ukraine. Sounds good to me. At any rate, I thoroughly enjoy going to the Slavic Church with Olya when I can. It is a rich blessing to see fellow believers freely and joyfully worship in their own tongue and culture. Right here in Spokane no less. 

So, in honor of Easter in Ukraine, here are some pictures taken last year of the Eastern Orthodoxy Monasteries in Kiev Ukraine.

To start, here are some pictures of the St. Michaels Golden Domed Monastery. Taken in the post-adoption days with Olya!

Here lies the St. Andrews Cathedral. This is the cathedral that is right across from the SDA office in Kiev. 

Our good friend and driver told us all about the history of this church and it's surroundings but I don't remember a thing about it.

Here he is telling me all about it :)

He was a very thorough tour guide. Thanks Eugene, you are the best!

When we finally made it inside (no picture taking allowed), Stacy recalls that all she wanted to do was leave because she felt that she was the only woman without a head covering.

До свидания (Do svidaniya  Good bye)