Children At St Nicholas
  

Martin McGuigan, his children Peter (L) and Praskovya (R) are bringing the fruit for the Christmas Stocking charity lunch at the “Trapeznaya” (the dining hall) of the St Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, DC.  
After cutting the bread (prosphora) into square pieces, one of the Altar boys, Danila, carefully sweeps all the crumbs. He will then open the window and give the crumbs to the birds. 
Konstantin Kuzin (4) is looking at his mother, Irina Kuzina, before touching the jug. Father George (L) and Father Valeriy (C) look at the young parishioners during the special children Liturgy Service that they have introduced at St. Nicholas Cathedral.
Danila, one of the Altar boys, is reading the names from the prayer books in the Altar of the Cathedral during the Liturgy Service. Parishioners write the names of their loved ones, praying for their good health and also the names of the deceased relatives so that they can rest in peace. 
Children are treated specially at St Nicholas. They are always the first to the Communion during the Sunday Liturgy service. Vilena Klimenko (C) and Anton Naritsin are on this photo.
Parishioners are drinking the Communion wine during the Children’s Liturgy Service. From left to right are Tatiana Vorontsova, her son Valentin, Kristina Khan and Andrey Kuzin. Tatiana Vorontsova (L) is blowing on the hot
Matushka Anna Danylevich (L) is leading the quire of the young parishioners during the Children’s Liturgy service.
Girl is praying at the Plaschanitsa (Life-Giving Tomb of our Lord) on Holy Saturday.
The lessons for the youngest children at the Sunday school are filled with activities that are both fun and educational at the same time. From left to right are the teacher, Galina Volkova, Lisa Karpukhina, Lisa Mytareva,Cristina Khan, Xenia and Sergei Mytarev.

A photo essay about children at St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, DC. For the washingtonpost.com

 


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© Alexey Tolchinsky
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