THE BLUSTERY OMSK DAY
THE BLUSTERY DAY"Going to the Soviet Film Exhibition?!" my wife said in scorn. "Tomorrow is Holy Thursday, and at least one of us should go to church." Well, that's true, I thought, although I did find time to see the new exhibitions in Omsk too.And so, when I got on the bus that morning, I flipped through the news on my phone and happened on a short sermon by Hieromonk Philofei (Makharramov).In these days, many of us gather here in the church, and … It is unlikely that while standing here for these five hours, we all feel good and comfortable and sense the presence of grace. It is hard for us both physically and spiritually to carry this heavy load. … Don’t worry if we do not see the results of the labors we are performing this week right away; they will certainly come later, and the Lord will bless us and help us in tough times throughout the year. May God help and save all of you."I guess I was glad to be going to church, of course, on that windy, sleety, blustery day. The rain and snow pelted my face, and the wind hit full force no matter which way I faced. It's true that about 60 or 70% of the time spent in church is one of mild irritation. But the hope is that God will help during the year ahead. As St. Luke Sevastopol said, when Christ walks with you, the road is light, very light, no matter how difficult the path. He said when asked how he could possibly bear the difficulties of years in the Gulags, being a bishop as well as one of the most eminent surgeons.Next, I took a short but rather soggy quick walk to the History and Folklore Museum, as they had a new display of Soviet cinematography. One of the ways to form a memory of the past is cinema. Soviet cinema of the 1930s–1980s actively participated in patriotic education, especially during the Great Patriotic War. The main task of culture during the war years was the spiritual unity of the Soviet people. Despite the difficulties, the cinema still gave Omsk residents moments of mental and physical rest, helped them overcome everyday hardships, survive the death of their loved ones, and encouraged them to work in the name of Victory. Documentaries and feature films about the war introduced people to front-line life and made them feel like they were participating in battles. Many Soviet films about the Great Patriotic War have not lost their relevance today. In the development of cinema, photography plays a key role, as it acts as one of the main stages on the way to creating moving images. Photography is the most accessible way to capture events. Photojournalists who went to the front were able to capture military realities, battles, and the lives of soldiers.Finally, I went to the War Museum of Omsk, again fighting the full-in-the-face sleet as I marched quick-step over the Om River, through the Irtysh Fortress Gate, and through the gardens.2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. "Golden Stars of Omsk is being opened in the Museum Complex of Military Glory of Omsk residents. The exhibition presents photos, documents, awards, and personal belongings of Heroes of the Soviet Union and holders of the Order of Glory. Visitors will see samples of uniforms and weapons of the Soviet troops, including a Shpagin submachine gun, a Mosin rifle, an 82 mm battalion mortar, a Red Army helmet, and a tank driver's helmet. Unique exhibits of the museum are original award documents and awards of our heroic countrymen. Especially interesting are the medals for serving in Stalingrad. The exhibits are put together very well and with immaculate attention. Great job, staff!Finally, I circled round the Resurrection Cathedral, and right next door is the Dostoyevsky Coffee Shop for a quick breakfast of a bit of cherry pie and coffee.
THE BLUSTERY DAY"Going to the Soviet Film Exhibition?!" my wife said in scorn. "Tomorrow is Holy Thursday, and at least one of us should go to church." Well, that's true, I thought, although I did find time to see the new exhibitions in Omsk too.And so, when I got on the bus that morning, I flipped through the news on my phone and happened on a short sermon by Hieromonk Philofei (Makharramov).In these days, many of us gather here in the church, and … It is unlikely that while standing here for these five hours, we all feel good and comfortable and sense the presence of grace. It is hard for us both physically and spiritually to carry this heavy load. … Don’t worry if we do not see the results of the labors we are performing this week right away; they will certainly come later, and the Lord will bless us and help us in tough times throughout the year. May God help and save all of you."I guess I was glad to be going to church, of course, on that windy, sleety, blustery day. The rain and snow pelted my face, and the wind hit full force no matter which way I faced. It's true that about 60 or 70% of the time spent in church is one of mild irritation. But the hope is that God will help during the year ahead. As St. Luke Sevastopol said, when Christ walks with you, the road is light, very light, no matter how difficult the path. He said when asked how he could possibly bear the difficulties of years in the Gulags, being a bishop as well as one of the most eminent surgeons.Next, I took a short but rather soggy quick walk to the History and Folklore Museum, as they had a new display of Soviet cinematography. One of the ways to form a memory of the past is cinema. Soviet cinema of the 1930s–1980s actively participated in patriotic education, especially during the Great Patriotic War. The main task of culture during the war years was the spiritual unity of the Soviet people. Despite the difficulties, the cinema still gave Omsk residents moments of mental and physical rest, helped them overcome everyday hardships, survive the death of their loved ones, and encouraged them to work in the name of Victory. Documentaries and feature films about the war introduced people to front-line life and made them feel like they were participating in battles. Many Soviet films about the Great Patriotic War have not lost their relevance today. In the development of cinema, photography plays a key role, as it acts as one of the main stages on the way to creating moving images. Photography is the most accessible way to capture events. Photojournalists who went to the front were able to capture military realities, battles, and the lives of soldiers.Finally, I went to the War Museum of Omsk, again fighting the full-in-the-face sleet as I marched quick-step over the Om River, through the Irtysh Fortress Gate, and through the gardens.2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. "Golden Stars of Omsk is being opened in the Museum Complex of Military Glory of Omsk residents. The exhibition presents photos, documents, awards, and personal belongings of Heroes of the Soviet Union and holders of the Order of Glory. Visitors will see samples of uniforms and weapons of the Soviet troops, including a Shpagin submachine gun, a Mosin rifle, an 82 mm battalion mortar, a Red Army helmet, and a tank driver's helmet. Unique exhibits of the museum are original award documents and awards of our heroic countrymen. Especially interesting are the medals for serving in Stalingrad. The exhibits are put together very well and with immaculate attention. Great job, staff!Finally, I circled round the Resurrection Cathedral, and right next door is the Dostoyevsky Coffee Shop for a quick breakfast of a bit of cherry pie and coffee.