CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN!

CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN!

And unto us hath He granted life eternal; we worship His Resurrection on the third day.

We are here, Great and Holy Pascha! It is a time of joy and celebration!Today is Monday, but during this week after Pascha, we call Bright Week, we are continuing to celebrate the Holy Resurrection of Jesus Christ! Though it is a week, it is for us one continuous day. There are many blessed customs during Bright Week. We gather each morning, partaking of the blessed Pascha foods we took home from Church. We even say different morning and evening prayers during this time (See here Prayer Rule for Bright Week).

Here are some great pictures:

Pascha Cheese, known as Tvorog. Made with Farmers Cheese, Sugar and Heavy Cream. It is molded and the whey strained. This one I made (each year I do it) is probably a foot tall. It's super yummy!

Those gathered for the Pascha Divine Liturgy. It is packed at the Monastery each year. It is a great blessing to have been able to be at a Monastery for Pascha these past three years. CHRIST IS RISEN! INDEED HE IS RISEN!

 The boys and I (taken around midnight or 12:30am) at the Church. 

 

Our Pascha basket: Hrin/Beets and Horseradish (purple stuff), Red Eggs (dyed with onion skins), Meatstick (Lamb and Buffalo mix, wrapped in Bacon), Pascha Bread (it has Raisins), Pascha Cheese (the white stuff on the left), and Hrudka/Egg Cheese (essentially a "dry" slightly sweet egg custard kinda of dish).

Another shot of our Pascha basket, but with the candle in it. Someone graciously gave us one because we didn't have one.

 A shot of the Monastery at 5:30am.

 Another shot at 5:30am

 Fuller shot of the monastery at Sunrise.

We are so blessed and full of Joy. We are all doing well. From us to all of you guys: Have a blessed and joyous Pascha and Bright Week! Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

The Baldwins 

Springing toward our Summer future

Life comes fast. I know I have mentioned how busy things are around here and how quickly our time at St. Tikhon's has gone by. Boy, has it seemed so quick. Today is May 1. Graduation is May 25. Unbelievable. Less than a month left. It has been such a blessing to have been here. We are so thankful for this time. We are gracious for the assistance and the prayers from everyone.

The big news around here is our newest little one: Justin Makarios. He was born last Monday, 8lbs even, 21 inches long. 

Again, we are so blest. What a wonderful little boy God has given us. The boys just love him so much. They took to him the moment they saw him. They are eagerly teaching him everything they know. I am already imagining 15 years from now, no one is going to mess with any of these brothers. They are so close already.

Okay, enough talk, here's some pictures:

Fr. Gabriel saying the Prayers for the first day 

(This "little service" consists of the priest saying Prayers for the health and recovery of both Mother and baby)

Fr. Benjamin saying the Prayers for the Eighth Day

Matushka Lauren holding baby Justin

(Another "little service" of prayers said for the naming of the child and the well being of the Mother and child)

 

We are all doing well. Baby and Mama are recovering speedily and doing great. We have recieved alot of love and support from the community. Here at St. Tikhon's, when one of the Seminarian wives has a baby, the community pitches in and provides dinner/meal for two weeks. They bring the food over and chat a bit. It is awesome. That's all for now. Please keep us in your prayers as we finish this journey here at St. Tikhon's. See you on the otherside of Pascha.

The Baldwins

Alexis, Veronika, Aidan, Isaak, and Justin