Мое «паломничество» в Вааса...
On Wednesday, I visited Vaasa, my favorite city in Finland. It was a great and significant day for me. After a long time, I met a dear friend of mine. In the evening, I attended the church service in the St. Nicholas Orthodox Church.
Me and the St. Nicholas Orthodox Church. Photo by Gilmore.
Я и Православная церковь Св. Николая Чудотворца.
Я и Православная церковь Св. Николая Чудотворца.
I have a period of "catechumenate" (оглашенные) now. It means a lot of teaching, reading, and visits to the church. I enjoy this period of my life! （＾ ＾） After the catechumenate time, I'll become a full member of the Orthodox Church.
Spiritually and theologically, I actually am an Orthodox Christian already, but not an official member yet. This has been a long journey, and it is still in progress. I feel like I'm on my way to find the place where I belong... Конечная цель путешествия... монастырь?
Spiritually and theologically, I actually am an Orthodox Christian already, but not an official member yet. This has been a long journey, and it is still in progress. I feel like I'm on my way to find the place where I belong... Конечная цель путешествия... монастырь?
Blessings to all. （＾—＾）
Teisuka
✿⊱╮ ✿⊱╮ ✿⊱╮✿⊱╮✿⊱╮✿⊱╮✿⊱╮
"He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. ...my cup overflows." (Psalm 23)
«Он покоит меня на злачных пажитях и водит меня к водам тихим, подкрепляет душу мою. ...чаша моя преисполнена.» (Псалом 22)
A view from the inside of the church. Photo by Teisuka.
Me praying in the church. (This picture is taken last summer
in the same church.) Photo by Gilmore.
in the same church.) Photo by Gilmore.
The Orthodox book that I bought from Vaasa,
titled Father Amvrosy of Optina. My dear friend
Nika told me about this holy man some months
ago, and now I found this interesting book.
titled Father Amvrosy of Optina. My dear friend
Nika told me about this holy man some months
ago, and now I found this interesting book.
In the evening, when I returned home, the train was
almost empty. But my heart was full. Photo by Teisuka.
Hi, Teisuka! Your pilgrimage means that your knee has recovered :) Very beautiful church! Are there any bells in it? :) I wish you to become a full member as soon as possible. When you finish reading this book you should visit Optina, a very beautiful place too and it is heavenly there.
ReplyDeleteVictor.
Hi Victor,
DeleteMany thanks for visiting and for your kind comment. Yes, my knee is much better now. I'm still limping a little bit when I walk. But I can walk without crutches, and I can even ride the bike or swim. :)
Regarding catechumenate period (оглашенные), it is so long in Finland. Even more than one year.
Yes, there are bells in this church but I haven't seen them. You should to come to ring those bells. Haha. :D I believe that Optina is very beautiful place, Nika has also told me about it. One day it would be very nice to visit there, and also in the legendary Sretensky monastery.
Blessings to you and your loved ones, Victor. :)
Teisuka
Hi again Victor,
DeleteI want to tell you some more information about the St. Nicholas Orthodox Church (Православная церковь Св. Николая Чудотворца). It was completed in 1866, and was originally built for the Russian population of Vaasa (Вааса). Nowadays, there are members from many nationalities in this church, like Finns, Russians, Swedes, and Serbs. So it is very international church. :)
Teisuka
Hi Teisuka,
ReplyDeleteI'm just back from my wonderful vacation. Hope everything has been going well for you as well. Thank you for sharing your trip to the church with us. It's a beautiful church, and I'm happy that you will become a full member of the Orthodox Church. It's just like a milestone in your pursuit of Christian faith, isn't it? Congratulations to you on this milestone. I'm sure you'll find more peace in your faith.
By the way, I really like your pictures. -:) May you have a wonderful weekend, my friend!
Bao
Hi Bao,
DeleteMany thanks for visiting and for your nice comment, my friend. So glad to hear you had a wonderful vacation. I look forward to see a video from your vacation! :)
Yes, I had a nice little "pilgrimage" last Wednesday, and "this" (my joining the Orthodox Church) is a remarkable milestone for me, indeed. I think I've found my place... Many thanks for the congratulations, my friend. I'm also glad that you liked my pictures.
Again, thank you for being here today, Bao - my friend and brother! I really appreciate that. Peace to you, and may you have a wonderful weekend as well! :)
Teisuka
I came back from Prague yesterday. On the last day of the trip I had a pleasant moment at one catholic church. There were no tourists at the time, so I could stay there for a silent moment. It was one of the best moments of my vacation, just sitting there on a bench, looking at the altar and thinking about the meaning of our existence. After that visit I had kind of nice and understanding feeling. It is a very good thing to sometimes sit down, think about the world and the meaning of our very existence, even though we have different cultures religions around the world.
ReplyDelete~old neigbour Doyle~
Nice to hear about your experience, my old neighbour. I believe your silent moment in the catholic church was a great and meaningful. "Thinking about the meaning of our existence..." Ah, yes! :) I think it is one of the wisest things we can do. Indeed, there are many different cultures and religions in this world. The truth is the mountain but there are many paths to the top... and we can approach it from different sides. The Pope John Paul II has said, "the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church are two lungs of Christianity".
DeleteThanks for visiting, Doyle, and all the best to you.
Teisuka
Hi Mistel Clyde
ReplyDeleteBeautiful picture-bog entry. I'm so glad you finally found peace from within, and congratulations! I do not know many of the big words you used. In my simple mind, it is like, umm.. you attended Catechisam classes and now, in soon, you will be able to receive Holy Communion?? Haha.. please forgive me if I am a bit confused!
I was schooled in a Convent, and attended, and observed at a Roman Catholic church (because I LOVED singing all the Hymns!!) often. There is a chapel in my school and I get sent there often and ordered to do penance by saying 20, 50, sometimes 100 (!!) 'Hail Mary' and 'Our Father'! Why?? Because I was a rebel hehe and would break the rules all the time :)) YeeeeHA! To sum it all up, I learnt nothing about Christianity except for the fact that I had this urgent urge to partake of the bread (body) and wine (blood), of which I was not allowed to -_-; and the church has some of the most beautiful songs in the world! Howzat.. :P
So it was really nice reading about your "catechumenate" (оглашенные) <= (cannot pronouce these words..)! Thank you for this eye-opening share!
Jya mata ne, Mistel Clyde, take care!
- Mistel Bonnie lol
Dear "Mistel" Michiko the Bonnie-chan! (lol) -^^-
DeleteSo glad to see you in my blog. Hope all is well in your world? Many thanks for your nice and lively comment. Also thanks for the congratulations and the good question (because I love to explain things, haha). Besides, it was funny to read about your "rebellious experiences" in a Convent school. You broke the rules all the time?? Aiyaa! You have always been so wild and naughty girl, Bonnie-chan. Yeeha!! :D
Regarding your question, "you attended Catechism classes and now, in soon, you will be able to receive Holy Communion??" Yes, it goes something like this. Usually, a "catechumen" is one who is preparing for baptism in the Church. But I was baptized as a child, and I have always been the member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. So I don't need a new baptism, but just other "sacraments" (like Holy Communion) and teaching.
This means eight lectures and eight visits to the church, and also eight trips to Vaasa, my favorite city in Finland! So you can understand how I enjoy this time. :) I came "in" to the Church last winter, and my catechumenate period will end next April. In the Finnish Orthodox Church, new members will be connected to the Church only once a year, at the Easter.
The catechumenate is an old Greek origin word, and it is difficult to pronounce (or even to remember) also in the Finnish language: "katekumenaatti". Waa, such a weird and difficult word! In English, the pronunciation goes like "katec-human-ate". ^^
You said, "The church has some of the most beautiful songs in the world". I absolutely agree with you.
You too, be well and take good care of yourself, dear Bonnie-chan! Again, thank you for your wonderful comment. I really appreciate that. All the best to you! :)
"Mistel Clyde" -^^-
Hello Teisuka^^
ReplyDeleteVery good article. I'm glad for you that you visited Vaasa and the Church of St. Nicholas. Beautiful church. Also I'm glad that your knee is slowly but steadily recovering. I always pray for you. Have a wonderful weekend, my dear friend! ^^
Nika
Hello, dear Nika ^^
DeleteThank you very much for your nice message and good wishes, they always makes me happy. ^^ Now I'm fine, thank God and your prayers. Me too, I always pray for you, and every day I thank God for having an angel friend like you. Have a wonderful weekend, my dear friend. Good night and sweet dreams, Nika! (^^)/
Blessings and warm greetings from Finland,
Teisuka