A little blackbird

Santoshi, who was just visiting the ashram for a couple of days, had a special experience on Easter Sunday - the 'Resurrection Sunday' (!) - and wrote it down for you: 

The power of  'Om Namo Narayanaya'

"Me and my friends were walking up to see the Kali Temple. Me and one of my friend Lakshmi were walking a little bit behind so the two other girls, Nadja and Marina, where before us and they saw a blackbird laying on the ground in front of the Kali Temple. So me and Lakshmi quickly ran up to see this bird.

After a while Dakshini was walking up talking on the phone. So we tried to show her that there is a blackbird laying in front of the Kali Temple. When Dakshini finished the call she told us to chant 'Om Namo Narayanaya' and so we did. 

We where chanting a couple of times and then the bird stood up but didn't fly away- so we did it again, but this time more and it flew away!"

Easter Bread (recipe)

Every year on Easter Sunday after the Liturgie Swami Vishwananda gives to everybody a peace from the blessed Easterbread.

Bhagyshri baked it yesterday. Here is the recipe:

Of course here we use instead of the eggs some egg replacement from the organic shop or cornstarch.

We have a wonderful pastry kneading machine but Bhagyshri says that her hands are better ;-)

During baking time (30-45 minutes) inside the oven she wrapped some Aluminium foil arrond so that the bread doesn't get too crusty. (If you are making very big breads, then bake 60- 90 minutes.)

Finished; some glace icing on top and ready for to be blessed in the church.

All Easterbreads are waiting - - -

 and we too ;-)   The liturgy was long---

Finally - after hours -  everybody got a piece of the bread !

Flower decoration for Easter

Yesterday, very early in the morning, Dakshini went to the whole-sale flower market to buy flowers for the Easter decoration.

The plan was to make a big garland for the top of the Iconostase in the church. 

With a team of some residents and some guests we started to prepare the garland so that it would be ready in the afternoon.  

After the garland was placed on the top of the Iconostase, we added some purple flowers wich where prepared in little vases so that they would last longer :)  

At the same time, a team of swiss devotees led by Dani arrived to prepare the chariot (Epitaphios) for Jesus for the procession on Good Friday

For Easter Sunday we will change the decoration into a very bright and colourful design...

Here we prepare already the decoration for the tables in the dining hall for Easter Sunday meal.

Song Training for Easter Liturgies

Over the last few days, there are orthodox liturgical singing trainings in the chapel. Under the lead of Mira we learned some important choral songs for the three feast days at Easter. 

Here the words and the recording from the rehearsal with Mira in the church:

Christ is Risen (Christos Anesti)

Christos anesti

(Main Paschal troparion)

Christos anesti ek nekron,
 

thanato thanaton patisas,
 

ke tis en tis mnimasin,
 

zoin charisamenos! 

Christ is risen from the dead, 

Trampling down death by death, 

And to those in the tombs 

He has given life! 

"Weep not weep not, Mother Mary"

Weep not, Weep not Mother Mary, Weep not, Weep not Most Holy

this is a song we'll sing for Great Friday

(Serbian song, English adaptation)

In the sea hard rock

on the rock stands one church

On the rock stands one church

in that church is holy throne

On the throne lays a book

lays a book of Holy Gospel

It is read by three angels

three angels, two archangels

By them stands mother Mary

weeping tears, hardly crying

Weep not, Weep not Mother Mary

weep not, weep not, o Most Holy

Weep not, Weep not Mother Mary

Weep not, Weep not, o Most Holy

My heart is ripped by pain

cause they caught my only son

They caught and crucify Him

give him vinegar communion

Put on his head crown of blood

Weep not, Weep not Mother Mary

Weep not, Weep not Mother Mary

weep not, weep not, o Most Holy

On the third day He will be resurrected

and in glory ascended on heaven

Weep not, Weep not Mother Mary

let us sing the Cherubic song

Hallelujah, glory to You, God

Hallelujah, glory to You, God