I started this blog entry on Monday night and am finishing it Tuesday afternoon.
Monday: It occurred to me today that I missed Labor Day. That's both summer holidays I missed this year. 4th of July I was in Acapulco and this year I'm in Kiev. I am so blessed to be able to do this.
Today it was really nice to wake up and not have to rush anywhere. I still was up early and went down to breakfast (without showering) at 8. I sat with Ilya, one of the Russians who was returning home today. We've all gotten pretty good with pantomime to communicate.
I met Florin at 10 and we had a meeting with one of the guys about his group. We went next door to the coffee shop to get a cappuccino. At a little after 11, we left on a walking tour of old Kiev led by our Orthodox monk. There were about a dozen of us. We walked for five hours. He is a relentless guide. We started at the church of St. Vladimir which I posted photos of the other day. We then moved on to see a series of churches and other buildings which are very ancient from 10th century. My pictures are posted but are "private" because of the needs of LGBT people here to be safe. If you want the link I will send it to you.
The goal was to see exceptional buildings and parts of Kiev. There is nothing like a walking tour to accomplish that. It is almost inconceivable to be in church where people have been worshiping for over a thousand years. It's unreal to be in wooden church where Cossacks prayed before going to battle. It's a revelation to see the different styles of iconography apparent. There was one I especially like of Jesus during the days before his resurrection breaking the gates of hell. It's a modern one and the whole bottom of the icon shows torture instruments used in hell. Jesus had Adam and Eve by the wrists pulling them up to heaven. And the juxtaposition of these beautiful pieces of art inside the church and outside, in the park, ancient pagan idols from pre-Christian times in this region. The pagan idols have slanted eyes to correspond to the Tartar people who created them.
We stopped for lunch at a cafeteria and I had a glass of buttermilk, borscht, and mixed vegetables. I drank a glass of Kvas that was really excellent. It doesn't smell very good but it tastes wonderrul and is refreshing. The group began to split up as people had to leave to their various destinations. Each parting had hugs and kisses and sadness. Roman and I left (I can't remember the other guy's name) and took the metro back to the hotel. When we reached the hotel, Nataly was looking for me because I was late to a meeting with Florin and Leah. I said goodbye sadly to Roman after telling him I can't come to Donetsk to help him start a church. Then I went to my meeting.
I met Rostek at 7pm at the Hyatt for a lecture in German about Ukraine and the EU. We kept passing the headphones (translation) back and forth. I could understand the German. He wore them when he needed the translation from German and during the question period, I wore them to hear the German translation from Ukrainian. After the lecture, there was a reception. We stayed for a glass of wine and then walked to the square where Rostek took the metro and I walked back to the hotel.
This morning, Tuesday, I met Florin for breakfast and then we went shopping briefly for souvenirs. We said good-bye in the lobby of the hotel because Florin didn't want me to come down to see him off. I understand that all too well.
So I've been in my room, catching up on email and adding a bunch of new facebook friends. I'm going now to the Church of St. Vladimir to pray and meditate. I have a lot to digest and I have a sadness that I have to leave at the altar.
At 7, I will have dinner with Rostek and Konstantin and will have the pain of saying goodbye to them as well. Tomorrow morning I will have breakfast at 8 and leave for the airport at 8:30 or so.
I receive far more than I give.
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