I am a die-hard Northeasterner (resident in Albany, NY), with a love of the plastic arts, music, literature, cooking, theatre, travel, my Nicky, and our cats Tulip, Moo, and Poochie. My Orthodoxy is not simply a faith; it is a matrix within which I see all of culture and civilisation. Indeed, without this cultural apparatus, the faith becomes a sterile and barren imitation of Protestant prooftexting. It then becomes a fruitless tree fit only for the fire. With the support of Orthodox civilisation, the faith becomes a spreading and flowering tree with bounty for all, and then some! The tree IS known by the fruits thereof…
On this site, I present articles from Russia in English translation, or material written in the Russian diaspora. Balanced and informed articles from Western sources are also included. I originally intended to present it without commentary (it is not an opinion site per se). However, in the evolution of this site, I found that some issues required a response or amplification. Also included are articles written by non-Russian members of the Russian Orthodox Churches (which includes the OCA, by the way). Also, I may insert an original article of personal authorship on topics uncovered in the general press.
The header art is from “Demonstration on 17 October 1905″ painted by Ilya Repin (1844-1930) in 1911. Mr Repin is one of the greatest Russian artists, and one of the two graduate art faculties in Russia is named after him. The other is named after Vasili Surikov (1848-1916), his slightly younger contemporary. Both were part of the art movement known as the “Peredvizhniki” (”wanderers”), which was one of the most influential currents in Russian art history.
Barbara-Marie Drezhlo (“Vara”)
7 November 2007
HandmaidLeah had mentioned that you helped her out with her art from time to time. Her blogsite has come off. Can you provide any contact info for her to me offlist? Thanks so much, in advance for any help on this,
In Christ,
Helen
Thanks for sharing this blog. This is wonderful. I am studying politics and I am currently looking for articles on and from Russia. Most that I found, though, are based on newspaper accounts either viewed solely from the American or Westerners perspective or reports as released by the Russian Government.
Thanks and keep writing.
Very rare “subject” and very nice blog. I come from Balkans and also try to “promote” great Russian art - although I am not an Orthodox.
So, if you are interested:
http://russiapastandpresent.blogspot.com/
and
http://russianfilm.blogspot.com/ are waiting for your visit.
Vara-
I truly enjoy your blog. What is going on with the OCA is a travesty and saddens me deeply.
I do have aquestion about the Russian Orthodox church in The U.S., currently.
What is the relationship of the RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OUTSIDE OF RUSSIA and the smaller,
PATRIARCHAL PARISHES OF THE RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH IN THE USA? One never hears much about them or their status among other ORTHODOX bodies. Any information would be helpful and appreciated.
GOD BLESS you and your efforts!
Matthew
Could you please tell me where I can obatin a copy of the beautiful “Theotokos, Mother of Life” image by Svetlana Rzhanitsyna shown on your website? Thanks & God bless! ~ Patricia Johnson
Very interesting site. Let us know if we can sponsor this site. About us http://travelallrussia.com
Dear Vara:
I stumbled upon your site by accident today - what a treasure it is! There was so much information on the Imperial Martyrs here I have never seen anywhere else. I would love to talk to you. How can I reach you?
Best regards,
Bob
What a wonderful site!
I am an Orthodox Christian who was born in Carpatho-Russia. Yes! Carpatho-RUSSIA! I am so glad that you refuse to use Ukrainian Catholic concocted terms like “Rusyn” to describe our people. We are RUSSIANS; always have been, are now and always will be! THANK YOU for respecting us!
As an Orthodox Christian I am overjoyed with your analysis of contemporary Orthodox America. Your coverage of the OCA, Antiochian Church etc. is right on the money!
As one born in the “Old Country” and raised here I am all for English along with Slavonic in church. But what MUST be given to this great Land is AUTHENTIC Orthodoxy; not a Protestant rendition of the same. Humble RESPECT on the part of converts and Americans for their Orthodox “parents” is the way to accomplish this.
Without us “Ethnics” Americans lose the Church’s traditional Julian Calendar for the OCA’s mutilated “Revised Gregorian”. They don’t know how to fast according to the Church’s canons. They concoct Lutheran-sounding music forgoing authentic, canonical chant. I notice that they don’t even know how to behave in a church! In short they slowly “reform” the Orthodox Church into an Eastern Rite Episcopal Church. “The salt loses its savor” as the Bible says.
It is the obligation of each and every Orthodox Christian to help bring those outside of the Church into Her saving bosom; no matter what their race or ethnic background. But protestantizing the Church to do this is NOT the answer. Soon it won’t be THE Church but another sectarian Protestant “Church”! Americans deserve the fullness of Orthodoxy; not some academic theologian’s malformed personal opinion in place of Orthodoxy.
You do a great job for Russians, Russian Americans and ALL Orthodox Americans! And I love your sincere interest in people of color, too! This is a great site!
Thanks!
Mike
My russophile , and consequently americanophobe , site .
http://zebrastationpolaire.over-blog.com/
Like it : Register it please !
Dislike it ; Erase this post please !
Best regards
I have been blessed immeasurably by your ministry. I come to Voices from Russia nearly every day!
Dear Barbara,
I am a dumb protestant/evangelical when it comes to things Orthodox. I do love reading your blog and updates, but have a couple of quesiotns. First, what does MP and EP stand for? I see those initials used in many of the postings. Second, could you tell me the difference between Russian and Ukrainian Orthodoxy. I have been to Ukraine many times (20), and have never understood the two streams of the Orthodox Church. When we were in Kiev in the mid 90’s I was aware that a funeral for a patriarch was disturbed by a group of Orthodox believers because of where he was going to be buried. They ended up burying him outside of the church where the funeral took place.
Thanks so much for all of your postings. I’m learning a lot!
Blessings,
Dave Baldwin
God bless you, Vara, and all of yours!
Michael
Dear Ms. Drezhlo
I wound up in your web site while looking for a good photo of the Ascension of Christ Cathedral in Yekaterinburg. I wound up here and stopped for a while to look at everything. What a wonderful place! I will certainly come back in the future and stay a bit longer.
Some months back while I was doing research on the Imperial Family I came upon a YouTube tribute which used scenes from a movie about the family’s last minutes in the Ipatiev house, but what made this tribute so extraordinarily beautiful was the song which had been used as an accompaniment. “Russia” is the name of the song–sung in Russian by a very talented young woman. The song, the video and the artist can be found here:
http://www.yulia.co.nz/Site/Video.html
Given the spirit of your web site, I thought you might enjoy it.
best wishes!
Catherine Zeppa Di Matteo