Although it has been an overcast day with some showers, there was much activity here at the monastery, as the Georgians gathered early for the Divine Liturgy served by Father Thomas who had flown in from Toronto. I am certain that the people were amazed at the beauty of the large icon that he had […]
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FRIDAY 29 JUNE 2018
We received good news when Vladika Lazar went to the Wound Clinic, for they told him that it was not necessary to return, that the wound had healed sufficiently. We felt elated to hear this. Some ladies came and painted most of the balcony floor in dark green which looks good and it was needed. […]
THURSDAY 28 JUNE 2018
On this day we commemorate the memory of Martyr Tsar Lazar of Kosovo who gave up his life for the defence of Serbia and who is honoured to this day by all Serbs. It is also the nameday of Vladika Lazar, and I feel sad that he has not received a single telephone call, message […]
WEDNESDAY 27 JUNE 2018
I felt proud of Vladika Lazar today, watching him walk in alone [with a walker] into the credit union and later into the pharmacy. He also walked up a flight of stairs to his doctor’s office, much to the amazement of the doctor who said that it usually takes a year for someone in Vladika’s […]
TUESDAY 26 JUNE 2018
I believe that I have driven more this day than any other for months. Before noon the sedan had to be taken to Abbotsford to have the windshield and the passenger window changed, which meant that the Jeep had to be taken as well in order for us return home. In mid afternoon I drove […]
DAILY DIARY FOR MONDAY 25 JUNE
Has our fortune changed? I did not see a single mosquito today and let us hope that they have gone permanently, but that is too much to wish for. During my monthly session at the chiropractic clinic, I was told that they are receiving a new machine that both decompresses and works on the hips. […]
SUNDAY 24 JUNE 2018
Today’s Liturgy was served in Church Slavonic with two litanies, one in Romanian and the other in Georgian. A number of people were about to leave for Europe, so prayers for travellers were read. Vladika Lazar served together with Father Alexey and Father Evgeny. Later in the afternoon, after almost everyone had left, some of […]
SATURDAY 23 JUNE 2018
We baptized seven year old Jason this morning and it was so uncomplicated, for he did all that he was told and, with his perfect behaviour, this service was a delight. During the reception after the baptism, while speaking to his mother about family details, Iwas astonished to discover that her grandfather came from the […]
FRIDAY 22 JUNE 2018
We received a new miniature camera in the mail this morning ,made in China and, as yet, not subject to tariffs. I can barely wait to try it out, as it looks most promising. My mobile phone takes good photos, but the quality of some photos taken on other small cameras has shown me, at […]
THURSDAY 21 JUNE 2018
I was not quite accurate in mentioning in yesterday’s diary entry that it was the summer solstice, as I later saw that it occurred at about three a.m. today. Still, it was close enough and we shall see what summer has in store for us. A visitor, who has never lived in the country, was […]
WEDNESDAY 20 JUNE 2018
Another hot day but cloudy so that we did not feel the sun’s rays beaming upon us. If I am not mistaken it is summer solstice and days will be gradually become shorter. I was proud of Vladika Lazar, for he filled out an invoice with his weaker right hand and the writing was legible. […]
TUESDAY 19 JUNE 2018
The heat kept us inside and the dreams we had in winter of enjoying the summer heat have suddenly vanished, and thoughts of winter’s cool and even cold breezes have come to mind. We had a touching memorial service this morning and a memorial meal that followed and, aside from driving Vladika to the therapist, […]
MONDAY 18 JUNE 2018
The monastery grounds are gradually returning to their former beauty, but without a few willow trees that had to be hewn and some pillar cedars that got to be too leggy. The lower lawn looks great again, and Yuri and Liudmila are out in the early evening, watering the flowers, shrubs and berries. In this […]
SUNDAY 17 JUNE 2018
Today has been a remarkably sunny, warm, even hot, day, difficult to be out in the sun for a long period of time but ever so pleasant to sit in the shade of the towering cedars. At the end of the Liturgy when I asked those who are planning to travel to step forward, it […]
SATURDAY 16 JUNE 2018
The heat arrived and we began to melt like snowmen in the heat of a warm spring day. I see that the boysenberries are looking promising and should be ripe before too long. Late in the afternoon Andy and his boys came with the wood chipper and began tackling all the broken branches that had […]
FRIDAY 15 JUNE 2018
It became slightly warmer today in preparation for the heat that is to come in the next few days. In true British Columbia manner, we have complained about the cold, about the rain, and now we shall begin to complain about the heat. On the way to the Wound Clinic we dropped off Yuri at […]
THURSDAY 14 JUNE 2018
At mid morning Maxim arrived with his parents who have just recently come from Vladivostok for a visit. They could stay briefly as Maxim had an early appointment elsewhere. Later in the afternoon, Sasha came by with his father, also from Vladivostok so that we had two groups of visitors from Russia’s eastern maritime region. […]
WEDNESDAY 13 JUNE 2018
This must be the first time in many years that I have stayed in bed so long, but I had to have the necessary rest. During this time I could hear a truck driving up to empty a load of gravel and others noises outside, but I resisted the temptation to get up. Naturally this […]
TUESDAY 12 JUNE 2018
We baptized a one year old baby this morning and, at first, all went well, but as the service progressed, she began to cry more and more. That in itself is insignificant but it does make it somewhat difficult to be heard over the baby’s crying. Nevertheless, the whole family was pleased and many photos […]
MONDAY 11 JUNE 2018
It was an exhausting day even though I scarcely did anything. Let me explain. Thomas drove me to the Complex Joint Clinic which is situated in the Vancouver General Hospital, a return trip that took about four hours. At the clinic, I underwent several tests and finally got to speak with the surgeon himself, an […]
SUNDAY 10 JUNE 2018
At the end of the Liturgy we had a memorial service for Michael Apostolidis who reposed six months ago. His widow, Glyko, has, in the meantime, moved to an apartment thanks to the help of some of the parishioners and she seems to be settling in. It makes it difficult for her, since her son […]
SATURDAY 9 JUNE 2018
We expected to have a group of Ethiopians visit us today but great was our surprise when we saw them arriving in their cars in addition to two busloads of passengers who stopped at the top of the monastery road so that they could walk all the way through the field. There were people of […]
FRIDAY 8 JUNE 2018
I drove Vladika Lazar to the Wound Clinic this morning where he was told to come only twice a week, as his wound is healing rapidly. This was great new for us and an encouragement for Vladika who will possibly be visiting the clinic only once a week in the near future and, eventually, not […]
THURSDAY 7 JUNE 2018
Poor Vladika Lazar, in addition to recovering from a stroke and a cancer operation, has been spending hours each day in preparing some of our books for Create Space, so that books can be ordered on demand and printed and mailed instantly. This can be a taxing and tiring job, but our spirits were boosted […]
WEDNESDAY 6 JUNE 2018
The old willow trees along the water that were damaged during the winter storm were looked at carefully and the process of cutting the damaged branches began. Some of these branches are huge and they dipped right into the water. Since this wood will be of no use in the fireplace, it will be chipped […]
TUESDAY 5 JUNE 2018
I will not apologize when I say that I arose late this morning, not that I slept in, but rather I lay in bed for as long as I could. Having regained much of my energy there really was not much that I accomplished. Yuri, the pest control man, came and checked all the “stations” […]
MONDAY 4 JUNE 2018
All of us here at the monastery have been showing signs of tiredness after the hectic weekend, but this is not a complaint, in fact, it is an expression of the joy and contentment we have felt following the spirit filled events. Moments from the Liturgy and especially from the Healing Service keep coming back […]
SUNDAY 3 JUNE 2018
The weather forecast for today was for showers throughout the day and we did have them, but fortunately they did not bother us, perhaps they were even of some assistance, since the mosquitoes are less evident during the rain.The Divine Liturgy was meaningful as it always is and the Agape meal was prepared with abundant […]
SATURDAY 2 JUNE 2018
Lija arrived with enough provisions, as they say, enough to feed an army. Even though feeling unwell she prepared supper for us and a number of dishes for tomorrow, since we will be having two potluck meals. Kirill put up an icon on the large cherry tree next to the monument in the field, while […]
FRIDAY 1 JUNE 2018
It is the first day of June, yet it felt more like early April with a cloudy sky, a brisk breeze and a touch of rain. I baked a large prosphora that came out of the oven in a splendid state. I cannot remember who told me that if one opens the oven to peek […]
THURSDAY 31 MAY 2018
In the morning we went to examine the trees that were planted yesterday because there was a slight possibility that the coyotes could have dug down to the roots, having smelled the bone meal that was added before transplanting, a problem we had experienced before. Andy was already in the field and he told us […]
WEDNESDAY 30 MAY 2018
The mosquito season has begun in earnest and all that we can do is to wait until summer’s heat rids us of these annoying insects. It has been noisy at the monastery with Davey repairing the cover of the old pool while Andy trimmed the tops of the cedars and hauled away limbs and branches […]
TUESDAY 29 MAY 2018
Andy has been lopping off the tops of the pillars cedars, as there was much destruction in winter with the ice storm. Moreover, they have become too tall and the uppermost branches tend to bend over to create something unsightly. We also got the two vehicles reinsured for another year and tomorrow we can paste […]
MONDAY 28 MAY 2018
I made my monthly visit to the chiropractor this morning for a spinal decompression which is actually painless and almost restful. In any case, it has helped me over the years. I happened to mention to him that some people enjoy standing on their head for a few minutes each day and he reacted very […]
SUNDAY 27 MAY 2018
Upon entering the church this morning I was struck by the abundance of greenery everywhere. In previous years it was more sedate, but this year we saw large branches of maples leaning against the iconostas and elsewhere, giving a true feeling of Green Sunday, as it has been called, that is, Holy Pentecost. I was […]
SATURDAY 26 MAY 2018
Father Moses frightened me when he telephone to ask about the two baptisms we were to have had today. “Did I forget, or am losing my memory?” I asked myself. As it happened, there were no baptisms to take place and I sighed with relief. Everyone who came for Vespers stayed for a light supper […]
FRIDAY 25 MAY 2018
As most readers of Daily Diary are aware. I usually prepare Sunday’s prosphora on Fridays so that, in the event that the prosphora does not turn out successfully, another one can be baked on Saturday. Today I had a helper in Liudmila when a large prosphora was baked, beautifully round and with no blemishes on […]
THURSDAY 24 MAY 2018
Yuri and Liudmila came today to help in the production of the skin creme that the monastery is proud of, for it truly is an excellent product. As I grow older, it becomes more difficult for me to make it, so this assistance was gratefully accepted. There are only the labels to be applied to […]
WEDNESDAY 23 MAY 2018
A nurse, who specializes in foot care, came in the morning to look after Vladika and me since both of us cannot tend to our feet properly. She is a sweet and kind older woman with thirty years of nursing experience and, after each visit, our feet feel significantly better. She told us that she […]
TUESDAY 22 MAY 2018
A sudden burst of energy fell upon me and I was able to accomplish several tasks that had been lurking in the background, not being done. And, with this surge of energy I quickly completed them, leaving me optimistic for the rest of the day. After weeks, or at least many days, of not […]
MONDAY 21 MAY 2018
As this is the last day of the Victoria Day weekend, the highways are jammed with cars returning home from a brief camping or visiting trip. This is the kind of day when it is best to stay off the highways. Lija and Olga arrived early in the afternoon to do cleaning for us but, […]
SUNDAY 20 MAY 2018
I awoke late in the night and I could hear the rain, a soft and gentle rain. By the time I went to church, it had stopped, leaving the air fresh with a strong hint of spring fragrance. Just as we had expected, many people were away on this long holiday weekend, but we expect […]
SATURDAY 19 MAY 2018
A very light rain cleansed the air and added a freshness that only a light rain can bring. It in no way can resemble the fragrance of freshly cut hay or grass, yet it can offer us much pleasure. When Kirill accompanied me to the cottage in the evening, we could hear an owl hooting […]
FRIDAY 18 MAY 2018
Four women showed up before seven thirty in the morning to work in the gardens where they weeded, trimmed, hoed, mulched and did many other things involved with gardening. Even a small birch tree was transplanted and, if it takes root, it will be a joy for us to look at it through the large […]
THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018
Morning began with the celebration of an Ascension Liturgy but, because Father Alexey could not be present, Vladika Lazar served the entire Liturgy except for some censing and giving Communion, as his right arm is not yet strong enough. Still, it was good to see him vested and serving once again. Later in the afternoon […]
WEDNESDAY 16 MAY 2018
The temperature fell somewhat today and that affected us by having to put on a lightweight jacket or sweater. Mind you, the average younger person still walked about in shorts as if it were the middle of July. I, for one, made sure that I would not get chilled. I do not want you readers […]
TUESDAY 15 MAY 2018
Today might have been called a perfect day with a brilliant sun above us, yet a fairly cool breeze comforting and refreshing us. In fact, I could have gladly stretched out on a hammock, although we do not have one, or on a chaise lounge, which we did have at one time but which has […]
MONDAY 14 MAY 2018
And it was another scorching day, but we should not complain. Everything looks beautiful outside, but there is the daily task of having to water all the flowers. We sent out a Constant Contact message, asking for volunteers to help Glyko move from her house to an apartment. She has no family here to help […]
SUNDAY 13 MAY 2018
For us, today was a real scorcher! Fewer people were present today, no doubt because of the beautiful weather and the fact that it is Mothers’ Day which is so widely celebrated. I did mention in church that we also celebrate our Mother, but in this case it is the Most Holy Theotokos. We were […]
SATURDAY 12 MAY 2018
Most of the day was spent outdoors, for we served an outdoor wedding for Dan and Nadezhda. It was a bright, sunny and hot day, allowing us to appreciate this special service. The arch outside the small outdoor chapel was decorated with flowing white sheer cloth and dozens of freshly cut flowers. We all stood […]