Easter in Bucharest

The missionaries in our district (Bucharest East) meet downtown before heading for midnight mass.

We pass a church built in in the 1700's - still in use.

We head toward the lights and our destination.

Crowds begin to gather  - we still have to get to the bright lights ahead.

A priest is is standing on the balcony speaking.  An excellent PA system, so there's no problem hearing - I stepped outside the fence up on a rise to get a better look at the balcony.  Note the guards dressed like tin soldiers.  They stood sharp and alert for the entire ceremony.

Everyone is packed in shoulder to shoulder and front to back awaiting the exciting moment to come.  Meanwhile I look around at the beautiful architecture surrounding us.

Precisely at midnight, another priest comes out with a lighted torch and people throng toward him to light their candles as bells in the bell tower begin to chime.

Everyone brought a candle (all along the route to the church, street vendors were selling candles ) and the light spreads throughout the crowd as people share their flame with others around them. The person sharing the flame says, "Hristos a inviat" (Christ is risen).  The person receiving the light replies, "E adevarate, a inviat" (It is true, He is risen).  We found this very touching, because we know it is true!

All weekend, and apparently for the next 40 days, this phrase is spoken as a greeting, where you might normally say, Hi, how are you?  People said, "Hristos a inviat," and you replied, "E adevarate". At our church meetings, the speakers started their talks with the phrase and the congregation replied. Even at the shops on Monday morning we heard customers and store clerks saying it. A cool tradition! 

Vicky shows her lighted candle. Now she has to keep the flame burning all the way back home, or superstition is that you will have bad luck. Both Randy and Vicky were successful.  It was quite a sight seeing people everywhere carefully sheltering their candles along the streets and in the Metro as they made their way home. The former fire chief blew out the candles the minute we stepped through our apartment door.

Missionaries turn for a mug shot. The girl in the white hat recently completed her mission in Romania and came back with her parents for a holiday.

Easter Sunday - after church "the district" gathers at the Wolsey's for an Easter feast. Those are tulips in the centrepiece.  When Randy brought them home, they were still closed, but when Vicky trimmed and put them in water they all popped open.  Those are colored eggs around the base. 

Randy and Vicky teach the missionaries how to play "Pass the Spoons".  It got pretty competitive.