Russian church mixes culture with food in Norwich
Oct. 7—NORWICH — Ryan Clarke of Canterbury, who has not had much in the way of exposure to Russian culture, appeared absolutely giddy over his discovery of borscht on Saturday.
"I didn't know you could make soup out of beets. That's the most Russian thing I've ever heard," Clarke said with a smile.
Clarke was among hundreds of people to line up for a sampling of Russian goodies during the annual Russian Festival at the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia Orthodox Church.
Borscht, a soup that gets its red color from beet root, is also a staple in other eastern European countries like Ukraine and Poland, several visitors pointed out. So the treats available at the Canterbury Turnpike church was more from a mix of cultures — and included everything from Russian nesting dolls and baklava to pierogies and a demonstration on how to make a pysanky egg, a Ukrainian Easter egg.
Lisa Schipritt of Rhode Island set up a table at Saturday's festival to show how to make a pysanky egg using a funnel-shaped stylus called a kistka to painstakingly apply beeswax in a design on the egg before dipping it into dye.
There was also a puppet show, kids games, a "Country Store" to buy handmade items and Russian imports and a bake shop featuring Russian black bread and a variety of pastries such as rogaliki.
The annual fundraiser is in its 26th year, and while food was the spotlight and the reason for the line snaking to the front entrance, it was also a chance to welcome the community in, said Father Cyril Gregoire, a church deacon.
While the crowds waited for their food, Gregoire offered tours of the church's modest but ornate chapel lined with paintings of martyrs and saints with a row dedicated to the 12 Great Feasts. He also offered a bit of history of the church, which lays claim to being one of the oldest Christian religions in the world.
Gregoire said the basis for the orthodox faith is "being at peace with one another," and the parishioners at his church have been praying for the people suffering in Ukraine. Many parishioners have ties to both Russia and Ukraine.
Proceeds from Saturday's event will go not only to help pay operating expenses of the growing church, but allow its members to perform good works in the community, such as food for the homeless, said longtime church member Shirlee Holmes of Scotland.
Holmes, who manned "Babushka's Raffle" table near the front entrance of the church, said the event is a family affair for her. Her brother, 81-year-old Dick Tarryk of Norwich serenaded visitors with his accordion, playing a mix of songs that included traditional Russian folk songs. John Holmes, Shirlee Holmes's husband, wiped sweat from his brow and took a minutes to sit after a morning in the kitchen. John Holmes said food preparation for the event is a weeklong affair. By midday, visitors had nearly depleted the 400 stuffed cabbage and 200 dozen pierogies prepared for the event.
"I'm tired," John Holmes said.
The food, and a bit of nostalgia, is what attracted Eugene Cyr of Jewett City to the event several years back and keeps him coming. He said he enjoys Russian food, and it reminds him of his grandparents. Cyr was joined by his two daughters and their families for a nice day out and a Russian sampler, which included stuffed cabbage, kielbasa with sauerkraut, pierogies and black bread.
Gregoire said much like his parish, the festival has grown each year and he expects nothing less come next year.
