Christian Photographers Community

I've driven past this place several times and always wanted to stop and take pictures of it.  It is an old Train Car that has been converted into a Russian Orthodox Cathedral.  I was taking pictures outside with my Optio S4 mounted on my brand new monopod, and the priest came out and started talking with me and invited me to go in and take pictures inside.  The train is supposed to be just a temporary thing until they can build the real thing, but it has been there for at least three years that I know of, and I expect it was there much longer. 

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A song laid on the lectern.

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Notice that there are no pews, benches, seats in the middle.  This is because in an Orthodox service you are standing the whole time. 

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Apparently they were getting ready for a service that night, as there were several ladies outside on some benches waiting and talking.  When I talked with them for just a minute, they were totally surprised that an American could speak Russian.

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Here the priest was about to give me an icon to pray to (don't believe I need that, I can pray directly to God), and then he was showing me the plans for the new cathedral and was asking me if I would help them find sponsors from America to pay for it (you know we Americans are all rich).  I didn't tell him that I was a missionary here in Belarus, and I was trying to raise funds myself for the Pentecostal Churches, because they consider the Pentecostals almost a cult.

How interesting!  I didn't know that in some churches they stand for the entire service!  That would be really hard on the elderly and infirm, wouldn't it?

I know when I was in Romania on a missions trip, many people gave me notes or talked to me, telling me how very poor they are and asking me for money, or to send money when I got back home.  In many poor countries they do consider all of us to be rich.  And, in comparison to them, we are!  I often think how wonderful it would be to have unlimited resources and be able to help a lot of people!  I would love it.

thank you Mike for sharing these photos. I didn't know they stood for the whole service either. My father may have been russian Orthodox or he may have been Russian jew none of the family is left for me to find out but I have heard both.

Mike, these are great.  I have a cousin who is a train buff and I sent him this link.  I can't imagine this being so elaborate and it is temporary. 

Mike, it is interesting at how ornate the interior of the church is.  Thanks for sharing these pictures and the information.