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Pentecost in Korytnyany

What a busy day today has been! Can’t believe it!

We started out with Divine Liturgy in Korytnyany because it was the feast day of their temple. Father went to hear confessions and I went into the church, making my way amidst a sea of babushkas to the front so I could get some pictures of this beautiful temple. Still getting used to (or trying to understand) some of the differences in tradition, such as kneeling during the proclamation of the Gospel, or during Holy, Holy Holy, and the consecration. It was the very first time I had seem people rush to the front to kneel before the Gospel as it was being proclaimed – but then again Transcarpathian Divine Liturgies are new to me.

Just before Communion we had to rush out, pile in the car, and head off to Father’s parish in Andriivka to celebrate Pentecost Sunday there, as well. After Liturgy Father and his family make stops in town to visit some of the parishioners. We first stopped at the house of Misha and his wife. Misha is a farmer and his wife works in the medical profession. As well as it being Pentecost, in Ukraine today it was also the day honoring those who work in the medical profession so there was twice as many reasons to feast. We were invited inside to a table full with food. Having just broken the fast the food was entirely necessary with as hungry as I was. They also had lots of great Carpathian food – which of course I had to try!

After visiting with them for about an hour or so we had to make our way to the next house, just several blocks down. It was the same thing. Very welcoming and gracious hosts whose table was filled with food. I managed, with a little help from Father, not to have to eat as much as at the last place. Can’t tell you what a relief that was!

Shortly afterwards we headed back to Korytnyany because we had been invited by the parish priest to celebrate the feast of their temple. Several priests and their families were there and, again, a table filled with food! How do these people stay so thin?! There was a slight relief from all the Ukrainian being spoke when I was placed across the table to one of the priests who studied in Rome and now teaches at their seminary here. He had also spent some time in the United States so we spoke both a bit of English, though mostly Italian.

We made it back to the house after about five hours of feasting. Like I said, what a day!