July  2006
 

Monastery of Ss. Boris & Gleb
Torzhok, Russia

In this Issue

Winter in Russia – Part 2 by Stefan (Ron) Kinnersley
News and Pilgrimages
 

Winter in Russia. Part 2
by Stefan (Ron) Kinnersley

Where was I? I know, vodka, yes… We visited a museum on the production of the national drink. Our host and friendly interpreter Father Arkadiy took us to the said museum only to find it closed. But being Father Arkadiy, he knocked on the door and the curator allowed us entry; it was a very interesting tour. We all finished in the tavern in the museum and had to sample the said drink. We only had one problem; our friends the Russians, once opening a bottle, do not screw the top back on; the bottle has to be emptied. I can honestly say that I did not feel the cold on our way back to the monastery even though it was –20 below!

During our stay in Torzhok, we were invited to other new friends houses and apartments for cups of tea. We thought, “do not believe it!” The table will be laid and one sits down to a meal with wine and V---- you are very lucky to escape after three hours. They are such good hosts.

Going to the 31st December we were invited to a New Years party. We arrived at 10 pm and met all the family: uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters and so on. There it was again! Table laid, bottle of wine and V----. Between two there was twenty sitting around the table so it was ten bottles of each. I have never enjoyed myself so much! We left at 5-30 a.m.

On 1st January, we were taken to another three museums, a museum of wooden buildings, which was very interesting, ploughing through the snow. The buildings have no nails or screws to hold them up. The next place was the museum of the town of Torzhok, from its humble beginnings to present day. I have to admit the last museum that we visited was my highlight of our stay in Torzhok; that was the house that Alexander Pushkin rented when he travelled his circular tour. I like to read Pushkin I think that he is one of the best poets and authors of Russia. Our stay in the monastery sadly came to an end on the 6th January 2006.

One part of our stay in the monastery I haven’t told you about is the banya. My first experience there was in the sauna and then after one hour walking into the main bathhouse where there is a plunge pool. Everyone jumped into the pool except me. I had to feel with my big toe the temperature of the water. The next moment I was in the water! The Abbot of the monastery pushed me in. The water was ice cold; one could have thrown me into the river, it would have been warmer. The best part was the warming drinks afterwards V…. As I have said it was sad to end our stay in Torzhok, but we were heading back to Tver and staying with Father Alexander for their Christmas. Two Christmasses and two Birthdays, that is another part to be continued. But not in July as Betty and I hopefully will be in Russia again.

News and Pilgrimages

Anastasia has given us good news. She is now a grandma of a beautiful baby girl, Alice Grace. Our love and congratulations go to Nicola, Darren and Anastasia.

We have a cookery corner at St. Michael’s. If anyone wishes to make cakes, bread or jam, we will be asking for donations which will be shared between all good causes we have named in the kitchen. If you can participate, please have a word with Veronica or Winifred, it should be fun.

The Antiochian Parish in Doncaster has organised a Pilgrimage to St. Guthlac, Crowland on Saturday 8 July. The Liturgy will be served at 11.00a.m. in the ruins of Croyland Abbey or, if the weather is inclement, in the Parish Church. After lunch, the Akathist Hymn to St. Guthlac will be sung and there will be an opportunity to venerate the Holy Relic of St. Theodore. There are five pubs in the village and a garden centre just outside it where lunches are served or picnic lunches can be taken. The church has a large car park and there are public lavatories in the village.