Opening of St. George’s Church in Kamenyuki, October 1, 2009
(You can read about the history of the church here and about the first service there, here ).
The festive opening of St. George’s Church in the village of Kamenyuki, Kamenets District, Brest Oblast was held on October 1, 2009.
The construction of the church began in 1998. In was initially financed from the funds of German sponsors and later, by the parishioners and the management of the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park. A long eleven years had passed by the time the church was finally opened.
The thirty-seven-meter wooden Orthodox Christian church stands on a hill in the middle of the village near the road that leads to the main entrance to the park. The church’s wooden iconostasis was made by local carvers.
Service began at 8:30 PM with the participation of Ioann, the bishop of Brest and Kobrin. The dean of St. George’s Church is Archpriest Ioann.
The shots below show preparations for the festivities completed. Locals and pilgrims are gathering to attend the service. The road was paved with flowers to welcome Bishop Ioann.
Churchwarden Aleksandr Gritsuk is ready to welcome the bishop with a traditional loaf of bread and salt.
The arrival of Bishop Ioann.
The bishop changing his robe before entering the church.
The church’s dean, Archpriest Ioann, welcoming the bishop inside the church.
The bishop approaching the pulpit.
The clergy waiting for the bishop to exit the altar.
The children’s choir from the Kamenets Sunday school.
The bishop entering the solea to greet the parishioners.
The bishop descending to the pulpit to change his robe.
The bishop changing his robe.
The bishop giving his blessing to the flock.
The bishop going back inside the altar.
The consecration of the communion table in the church’s altar.
The lighting of the seven-branched candlestick.
The bringing of the fire out of the altar to light the candles on candlesticks.
A Gospel Book on the communion table.
Icons of Saint George and of the Exaltation of the Vivifying Cross of Our Lord.
The church’s decorations: a chandelier.
The church’s decorations: the Crucifixion (Golgotha) and Resurrection.
The church’s decorations: candles on candlesticks.
Consecration of the church and anointing with holy oil.
Parishioners lighting candles.
The bishop’s mitre (headdress).
The bishop entering with a triple-branched candelabrum to give his blessing.
The bishop reading prayers.
Washing before performing oblation.
The prayer continued.
The bishop at the pulpit.
The bringing in of the Gospel Book.
The decoration of the church’s dean.
Preparing for reading of the Gospel Book.
The censing of the iconostasis.
Parishioners and pilgrims.
The bishop holding a cross and a double-branched candlestick during the blessing.
An archdeacon reading the Acts.
The reading of the Gospel Book.
The Bishop during the blessing.
A confession.
Preparing for receiving communion.
The dean of the church with a paten.
The bishop with the Sacrament.
The bishop praying.
The archdeacon with parishioners reciting the Symbol of Faith.
The bishop’s prayer continued.
An icon of Jesus Christ at the entrance to the solea.
The archdeacon entering for the second time to recite Our Father.
Archpriest Ioann, the dean of St. George’s Church.
The dean’s wife, Mariya.
The bringing in of the Communion cup.
The Communion.
Icons being brought out for procession.
Reciting a prayer.
After the procession.
Reading of health wishes.
The aspersion of the flock.
At the end of a prayer song.
The bishop giving a sermon.
Students of the Sunday school receiving greetings.
The bishop presenting an icon of Our Lady of Zhirovichi to the church.
The parishioners being thanked for their part in the church’s construction and decorated with the medal of Cyril of Turov.
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3  |
| (1 - Valentina Prokopchuk, chief accountant with the national park, 2 and 3 - Churchwarden Aleksandr Gritsuk) |
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| (Sergei Gritsuk) |
Other parishioners being decorated with letters of gratitude for their part in the church’s construction.
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| (2 - Michail Khrust, Õðóñò Ìèõàèë Âëàäèìèðîâè÷, foreman for the church building) |
The kissing of the Holy Cross at the close of the service.
At the end of the service.
The opening ceremony was attended by five hundred locals and pilgrims. Kamenyuki’s own population is just 1,100 people.
(All photographs by Heorhi Kazulka).
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Translated by Alexander Sukhoverkhov
