Apparently, many people, especially Orthodox Christians, have a lot to tell about how they got to know the Orthodox faith. Some people encountered Orthodoxy as babies, thanks to their parents; some received the Holy Baptism fully aware why their souls need it; yet others, by becoming Orthodox, managed not only to help their souls but also to radically change their lives, filling them with spiritual joy and deep meaning.

Daniel Hublet, a Belgian, got to know Orthodoxy thanks to the sisters of mercy of our St Elisabeth Convent, especially Sr Maria Fedchenko (who later became his godmother), as well as thanks to Nun Nymphodora and Nun Menodora, whom Daniel now considers his spiritual mothers.

He says, “I was born to a Christian family and always actively participated in the life of the Catholic Church. However, I would often come to Orthodox divine services, and this led me to discover an alternative way of prayer: veneration of icons, prostrations, Orthodox chants...

My mum is an artist and used to have a keen interest in Orthodox

icon painting. I began to visit Belarus in 2008 within the frameworks of the so-called Chernobyl program (rendering humanitarian aid to children). First of all, I was impressed by the hospitality of your people; we were warmly welcomed everywhere we went. Apart from that, I visited many Orthodox churches during my journeys. So I think I have had an invisible bond with Orthodoxy for a long time.”

Daniel met the sisters of mercy from our Convent in 2010 in Namur, Belgium, where they participated in a Christmas Fair. He recalls, “It was in December. I saw Orthodox icons on their stall. I came closer and very soon found myself engaged in active conversation with Sister Maria Fedchenko. I saw how difficult her obedience was: she had to stand outdoors all day long, in spite of the cold weather, and I wanted to help her somehow. Long after the Christmas Fair was over, we continued to talk with Sister Maria on Skype. I told her about my planned trip to Belarus, so, knowing my affection towards Orthodoxy, she invited me to visit St Elisabeth Convent. It was here in 2011 that I witnessed the Easter All-Night worship service for the first time.

Minsk, as I saw it, is a densely populated city with lots of tall buildings and bustling city life, even at night. However, when I visited St Elisabeth Convent, I realized that it is an island of tranquility and peace, a place of incredible grace in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the city. When I first crossed the threshold of the church in honor of the Reigning icon, it was as if I found myself in heaven. All this indescribable beauty - the building, the icons, the frescoes, the mosaics - shone inconceivable light. It was here that I realized that the Mother of God opened her embrace to me. This feeling did not leave me even when I came back home. Our friendship with the sisters of St Elisabeth Convent continued, and I would provide accommodation for them during their visits to Belgium. They would tell me a lot about the Orthodox faith, and I learned lots of new and useful things for my soul. One of the sisters who stayed in my house brought serious changes into my life.”

Daniel and Olga Maskievich met in October 2012. Sister Olga received a blessing from Archpriest Andrew Lemeshonok, the spiritual father of St Elisabeth Convent, for her first obedience in Belgium and France. Olga says, “I have been a member of the Sisterhood for over fifteen years. I had been married before I met Daniel but my first marriage ended in divorce. I hoped that the Lord would send me a good husband and that we would have mutual understanding and a happy family. Father Andrew knew that I was getting desperate over being lonely for so long. Father Andrew blessed me to go to Belgium with the sisters and help them. He also told me about Daniel and advised me to get to know him. I did not expect that, and, frankly speaking, I was afraid that I might fall in love with him because I would have to change everything in my life and move to Belgium. Things went precisely that way. Besides, Nun Rufina also prayed for me to have a husband and a family with the blessing of Father Andrew. I believe that her prayer helped me a lot.”

Daniel had also been married and had three children, two of them adopted. Daniel recalls, “It happened that my wife and I lost touch and could no longer understand one another; we had different opinions, but it was me who suggested the divorce. I felt guilty and somewhat burdened by this fact. The Sacrament of Matrimony in the Catholic Church is administered only once, one cannot be married twice. I was left with many unanswered questions after my divorce. I discussed them with Nun Nymphodora and Father Andrew (I was introduced to him when I visited your Convent). As I opened up my soul to them, I realized that the Orthodox faith made it possible to be forgiven by the Lord even for those who committed the sin of divorce, for God’s mercy is boundless and He can forgive everything, if one truly repents and is willing to start a new righteous life.

I always helped the sisters when they came to Belgium. Nun Nymphodora would tell me more and more about the Orthodoxy, and eventually I felt more and more inclined to become Orthodox. Nevertheless, I felt that I did not deserve it and could not embrace it, could not enter this amazing and spiritually abundant Orthodox life. I was afraid to take this step. When the Christmas Fair in Belgium was over in January 2012, Nun Nymphodora and other sisters asked me if I wanted to become Orthodox. They told me, “You are so close, you are so interested, and you know so much about our religion.” I replied that I was not ready but I hoped to be ready by the end of the year 2012. Nun Nymphodora said, “You never know what the Lord has in stock for us, so you shouldn’t postpone the decision and you shouldn’t be so terrified. Come to our Convent for the Easter, it’s the best time to be baptized.” It took me four months to get ready for this. I was thinking hard but finally, I made up my mind. Father Andrew baptized me in St Elisabeth Convent, in the church in honour of the Holy Royal Martyrs, on the Holy Saturday, the Easter Eve, and Sister Maria Fedchenko became my godmother.

After baptism, I felt that the heaven’s door opened for me; I felt so powerful, I felt so loved by everyone around me, by all who were present at my baptism. I realized that this was the step I had had to take long before. Stunning peace dawned on my soul, I became unusually calm and resolute, it was a miracle for me. My new life began. When I already was Orthodox, I got to know Olga, and we got married here, in the Church in honor of the Reigning icon of the Mother of God, on September 8, 2013, the feast day of Our Lady of Vladimir. It was no accident, for it was this image of the Theotokos I prayed in front of prior to my becoming Orthodox; I prayed in front of this icon both at home and in a church in Belgium. After my baptism, I was asking the Lord to grant me the joy of meeting an Orthodox woman who would like to share her faith and her life with me. It is very difficult in Belgium because there are so few Orthodox churches there. However, the Lord listened to my prayer.”

Daniel has many friends and acquaintances, many of whom were surprised by his decision but, he admits, they did not abandon him for this. When he became Orthodox, Daniel did not lose any of his Catholic friends; his mother was happy because she realized that her son finally found what he had been looking for all those years. Before he made up his mind to become Orthodox, Daniel asked for her blessing, saying, “You baptized me in the Catholic Church but I would like to ask you for a blessing to become Orthodox. We believe in one God, it’s just that I want to take a different path to Him.” She replied, “I know, this is your path. Go ahead.”

Currently, Daniel and Olga live in Graide, a village near Namur. Olga carries on her obedience in the Convent and helps the sisters during their trips to France and Belgium. Daniel works in Mont-Godinne hospital. Daniel’s children and other family members warmly welcomed Olga, and her son from her first marriage decided to remain in Belarus. “He is grown up, twenty-four already,” Olga says, “He prefers to live in his homeland. We come to Belarus from time to time in order to visit our relatives and friends, as well as to visit St Elisabeth Convent and see all who pray for us, who have supported and taught us.

What can we — weak and sinful people who had to suffer from loneliness and received a happy family as a gift from God — say in the end? Praise the Lord for everything, for this hard path that led us to this wonderful encounter! May the Lord save everyone who prayed for us: Father Andrew, the nuns, the sisters and the brothers, our friends and relatives, and other people, and also those who were jealous and wanted us evil because it was also beneficial for our salvation. During this bright Easter season, we would like first of all to wish everybody to have faith: believe in your dreams and in goodness, and obey your spiritual father. God has everything you need, and He can give it to you, and He gives each person His best. Call upon the Lord as your loving father and He will always help you. We wish you faith, love, hope, beauty, and Easter joy in your souls and in your lives.”

Story by Helena Gulidova

Archpriest Andrew Lemeshonok: We have forty days of joy ahead of us, and that is such a temptation! It is a greater temptation than fasting even, because only a courageous and a truly faithful person can be happy when they feel pain, when someone wronged them, when everything is falling apart. May God grant you this joy, which no one and nothing can take from you.

Sermon after the Liturgy on April 30, 2016

***

We have to be extremely cautious during this period of celebration so that we don't lose our way. We did a lot of fasting somehow but now we may begin to forget that the enemy is lurking around and gnashing his teeth; he stands behind our backs watching our every step. If we relax even for a single moment, we will immediately face a temptation. We should be aware of the fact that everything is fine only when a person does not lose his connection to God. As soon as he loses it, he is already lost. You can't tell how far astray he will go. This is why you should stop in your tracks immediately and cry out like children who lost their parents do, «Mom, Dad, where are you?» We cry «Lord, where are You? I'm lost!» Of course, the Lord will reply, «Come here, I am near». Take care, don't get lost. Don't hurry if you are not sure. Keep silent if you don't know something. If you are angry, you should go and reconcile first, and then come to conclusions and act accordingly. Therefore, my dear friends, let us learn to fight the sin, fight the devil, fight this sinful world and defeat it with God's help.

Sermon after the Vespers on May 1, 2016

____________________________________________________

Priest Alexander Pashkovsky: The Lord told Apostle Nicodemus that one has to be born again in order to get into the Kingdom of Heaven.

There are extremes on the road to the Heavenly Kingdom. Extremes aren't from God. However, there is also the royal way in the middle, and we should take it.

What makes one suffer the most? Either pride, when one is proud, unaware that everything he has is sent by God, or melancholy. Melancholy also stems from pride because it means that we lack faith and trust in God.

Sermon after the Liturgy on May 5, 2016

____________________________________________________

Priest Valery Zakharov: The Lord says, I am the way, the truth, and the life(John 14:6). He has everything. He has everything we will ever need. If we properly get what He wants to teach us, if we do not wander in darkness instead of light — the light of Christ — all other things will be added unto us, God will send them our way. On the one hand, it sounds too easy, and on the other hand, it is easier said than done. The Lord whispers into our ears, and sometimes we cannot hear his quiet voice. One has to stop and be quiet in order to maintain peace and silence inside his heart and be capable of hearing the Lord's voice. Only then we will be able to hear what the Lord says.

***

Pascha is a holiday that must be permanent. It must never stop. Saints used to say that one should always keep Pascha in his heart. It is possible because there are examples of saints who greeted everyone with, «My joy, Christ is risen!» We have to learn to greet people like this and not in a rude and brusque manner. When we make people happy, the Lord makes us happy, too. This is a fundamental law. Lord promises to repay us a hundredfold for any good that we do.

Sermon after a Liturgy in the Boarding Home for Children with Special Needs on May 1, 2016

____________________________________________________

Archpriest Demetrius Basalygo: We should be always asking ourselves: are we ready to refrain from retaliation? Are we ready to stand up for God's righteousness until the end? Are we ready to forgive betrayals, treason, offences and misunderstandings — that cup that Jesus drank when He walked the earth?

***

The Church lives in the healed time, where the compartmentalisation between the past and the future is no longer an issue, where death, time, and distance are overcome. This is hard to grasp but that's the Church experience.

Sermon after the Divine Liturgy on April 24, 2016

____________________________________________________

Archpriest Sergius Khrapitsky: People are looking for earthly things, but God came into this world and became human in order to take us to the Heaven, to unite us around gratitude and praise to him. We come to church, praising God and thanking him in the Sacrament of Eucharist. The word Eucharist means «thanksgiving». Here we come together and become one family — the Church of Christ.

Sermon after the Divine Liturgy on April 24, 2016

Holy Pascha

Pascha is more than just a feast; it is the core of Christian faith. This recording of a Paschal service was born of a burning desire to convey the all-embracing joy that permeates Orthodox worship during the days of the Bright Resurrection of Christ. Hymns that represent znamenny, Greek, Valamo, Bulgarian and Obikhod chants are performed by the Monastic Choir of St Elisabeth Convent.

Flowers of Joy and Sorrow

This is a concert recording of the Festive Choir of St Elisabeth Convent, which took place in the Belarusian State Philharmonics during the season of Pascha 2012. The Rev Artemius Vladimirov — a renowned priest from Moscow who is also an author and a Russian literature teacher — took part in this concert, too. That is why this album includes his address to the audience. His open and honest conversation with the audience was like painting a fresco — at least, that was how the priest himself put it. «If an icon painted gets confused, falls asleep, breaks the rules of proportion or combination of colors, he won't be able to patch it. He has to work on the spot, impromptu».

Click here to order a copy of Flowers of Joy and Sorrow

Nun Juliania (Denisova), the precentor: «That concert was held on the day of Zhirovichi icon of the Mother of God (May 20), which accounted for the title of the concert and the repertoire. We did not want to call it a Paschal concert or something. that'd be too trivial. We wanted that concert to demonstrate what joy and sorrow were, according to the Christian faith; and that was what Father Artemius was talking about and we were singing about».

This concert consisted of church chants (such as Paschal and Lenten chants, hymns dedicated to the Mother of God and saints), as well as folk songs and compositions by contemporary authors, including the well-known You SimplyHave to Love.

Mother of God of Zhirovichi

Archpriest Artemius Vladimirov: «Earthly joy and spiritual joy are somehow related but do not always coincide. Things that God gives us are free from eccentricity or pounding rhythms. In the Church, content is packed into a reserved, exalted, strict, and noble form.

Flowers of joy. When we talk about these flowers, we mean the softness of the heart of a Christian, one's secret prayer for one's neighbours, love that grows slowly but steadily and requires self-sacrificing labour. When people listen to church chants, they begin to delve deep into their hearts, look back on their lives and find the joy of childhood, openness and sincerity with one's parents, inner peace born out of one's unity with nature, and the happiness of finding one's second half.