Last Friday, I had the chance to meet with a delightful priest and his family. Fr. Alexander, Elena, and their daughter Ksenia lived for a year in Dallas, TX with the Gavriyuluks (Deacon Paul now serves at St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral in Minneapolis). Fr. Alexander was invited by Southern Methodist University to teach a course on Russian Orthodoxy about ten years ago. He showed me with great pride the syllabus and lecture notes he wrote in preparation for the course. The Klassens apparently had a wonderful time, but decided to return to Tomsk.
Fr. Alexander is a man of many interests. He has a degree in engineering, and as such works three days of the week for a construction company designing and implementing architectural plans. Two days of the week, he teaches "Theology" and "New and Old Testament" at the Tomsk Theological Academy. On Sundays, he normally serves in a church located in one of the prisons in Tomsk. I can't imagine what it must be like. Fr. Alexander explained to me that there are many talented, hard-working inmates. When he comes to serve, they prepare everything in advance: the prisoners bake the prosphora, serve as altar boys, sing the hymns. However, his great love is photography. He is currently compiling a book of photos showcasing the wooden homes of Tomsk. You can see some of his work at this website: http://picasaweb.google.com/engineeria.
Elena teaches English at Tomsk State University. She is organizing a couple of cultural outings for another American group studying here (who knew there were so many Americans in Tomsk?). Unfortunately, they will be conducted in English and therefore are forbidden for yours truly. She prepared a tasty dinner for me on Friday - vareniki, honey, tea, caviar.
Ksenia is fourteen years old and has just graduated from the musical academy. I met her only for a few minutes because she was performing a song for the "Chekov Evening". Every Friday evening during the summer, artists gather around the statue to Chekhov located in the center of Tomsk to sing, recite poetry, and do other artsy things.
As dad put it, it's awfully nice to meet interesting people in far-off places!
It IS awfully nice!
ReplyDeleteThe Klassens are really talented. It is surprising to meet people like this, I am almost jealous :P
So many awesome people you get to meet! Remember how I urged you to choose one of the two capitals instead of Tomsk? Well, all of a sudden it doesn't sound like the middle of nowhere anymore. Another reminder that people bustle about and make an interesting life for themselves anywhere and everywhere.
ReplyDeleteGood move on not attending the English excursion, you must keep up the good work of learning Russian.
Looking forward to your next post.
I LOVE THE PICTURE!!! Is that the priest??? OOOOO!!! I must admit, he beats my Dad! I'd love to meet him and his family. Looks like you're meeting some really interesting people!
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