2009 Russian Festival - Saturday
Saturday turned out to be much better than we had anticipated. Because of the rain, we did not expect a good attendance, but it was good. We had almost 100 people visiting the temple.
A highlight of the day was Vlada, a very cute young lady. I saw her walking towards the Festival and said, "We have a princess." She turned to me and said, "I am a Russian princess!"
She was born in Russia and adopted by an American couple. Later I told her that I see why her parents adopted her and the mother said that the father said that she is his treasure. She is a very polite and well-mannered girl as well as intelligent.
She later told me that when her father finishes his beer and her mother finishes what she is doing, they are going to come up to see the temple. They did not come. Later when I went downstairs to turn in the candle money, I saw them and told her that I was waiting for them. Her mother told me that she had told them that she wanted to see the temple but she thought that it was closed. I invited them upstairs for a private tour since I had already locked the front door. Vlada really loved it. I hope that they will come back soon.
Like several others, Vlada's parents broguht her to the Festival because they wanted her to keep in touch with her heritage. One of the reasons for the Festival is to share our Russian heritage. Although I am not Russian, there is no reason that I cannot also enjoy the Russian heritage.
Many people are surprised that I am Russian Orthodox and most intelligent people think that this is wonderful. Occasionally I do come across an ignorant person who cannot accept the fact that I am Russian Orthodox. One man at the Festival, when he saw me, said "I know that you are not Orthodox" and I replied that I am an Orthodox deacon and he then said, "Ethiopian?" and I replied that I'm Russian Orthodox.
There are people who think that to be Russian Orthodox one has to be Russian. This is far from the truth. |