Sts Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Institute
7 Oct 09: Australian pilgrims in Chernovtsi, Ukraine (11 Sept) – photoreport
1. Welcome to Chernovtsi
2. Dyadya Kolya and Fr Oleg are first to meet our group
3. His Eminence, Metropolitan Onufriy, surprises all by coming to the airport to greet our group. Let us love one another
3a. Overwhelmed by the reception
4. Amongst those at the airport is a Minister of the Ukrainian government, the spiritual son of the Metropolitan
4a. Metropolitan Onufriy takes time to welcome each delegate personally. Chatting with Jenny
5. The humble pastor conquers all
6. Rejoice
7. Vladika converses freely in English with all
8. The monastery of Bancheni visible in the distance
9. The beard of Aaron meets the wind of Bancheni
10. Golden domes adorn the almost completed cathedral outside the monatery’s walls
11. Entry gates
12. The bell tower of the Ascension men’s Monastery of Bancheni erected in honour of the 10th anniversary of the founding of the monastery
13. Within the monastery’s walls lies a treasure
14. Holy Ascension church – the main church of the monastery
15. Frescoes of God’s saints
16. As the sun sets on our first day in Chernovtsi
17. The stillness of the monastery compound
18. Various domes
19. The bell tower over the entry gates. The delegates were comfortably housed within this building
20. Within a chapel dedicated to St Seraphim of Sarov
21. Hieromonk Onufriy explains
22. The vision of the youth Bartholemew (future St Seraphim)
23. Days of creation
24. Within the bell of the tower
25. More bells
26. The monastery’s property
27. Construction
28. Fr Onufriy continues the tour of the monastery
29. View to the west from the Bell Tower
30. The Brotherhood quarters and cells
31. View to the south west
32. The main bell
33. The monastery cemetary and its chapel
34. Bell ringers
35. God’s country
36. the monastery skete in the distance
37. Within the tower
38. Dyadya Kolya (Vladika’s personal driver) and Fr Oleg
39. Fr Michael meets the abbot and founder of the monastery – the real Father Michael
40. The Abbot with our group
41. The Chidren’s orphanage and home
42. Meeting the children and their carers
43. Koalas and Kinder surprises. Australia meets the innocent children of Chernovtsi
44. Fred and all the pilgrims engage the children
45. Smiles of joy
46. Within the dining room of the children’s home
47. Paralysed, limbless, blind and autistic – none complain, yet all are positive
48. Have you got any more koalas – have you got any more fingers
