The 18th of August

Today is the Festival Of Good Fruits!

Then the festive procession went to Holy podium on the Island. Next hour the festive Divine Liturgy “Toll” was here.

There was no rain today; sometimes the sun looked out of clouds. But during the Liturgy the sky cleared almost completely; the sun was shining as if it was glad and celebrated with us. I looked at the sky. From a big cumulus cloud which was standing straight above us and didn’t move (it’s strange, before it I never saw clouds standing without moving) a small cloud separated and began to move very fast down to the earth. It was very strange to see: a big cloud was standing and a small one was moving down, and not like clouds usually move, but like a parachute-jumper. Uh, gosh! And a shape of the small cloud reminds a silhouette of a winged angel. I was standing and looking with my mouth open. And of course, I recollected about my camera when the cloud already began to fade away.

After the liturgy the priest Sergey invited representatives of other religions to perform their religious ceremonies here or to say something. A representative of Tuvinian people (they practice Buddhism) came up the stage, then representatives from American and German churches, then with storm of applause well-known Nama Hary – a representative of a spiritual trend which was born in Hinduism. Also a Moslem woman from Kazan-city rose on the podium.

Everyone who was on the podium said some words in the name of their confessions. And the representative of Moslem people read words from the Koran about love and unity between peoples. She also presented a white kerchief and told about Moslem ancient tradition when a woman could stop people who fought only with putting a white kerchief between warriors.

After it people began to form big circles for singing psalms and dancing around the Fire of Unity. Priests of the Last Testament Church and representatives of other confessions came together to the fire and kindled it. And then everyone took other’s hand and all together began to dance around the fire singing psalms.

After it various concerts and performances began. The festival was at its height. Pavilions of different crafts were opened in the Town of Masters; everybody could see how this or that craftsman worked and to learn any craft from a master. Here you also could admire hand-made things and even buy all what you liked.

At 1 pm a lively concert began, its participants were children. Marquees of villages were opened where you could know about the life of this or that village. Every village where believers live placed a marquee on the Island for everybody could see how the village lives and masters of what kind of craft you can find in it. Everybody could eat here for free vegetarian food which was cooked by hands of women from different villages. The most lavish tables you could find in Imiss’ marquee, a lot of hungry people made a big line to these tables.

Near the bridge to the Island a small cafe began to work, too. Here for money you could taste a plate of red-beet soup, raviolis, to drink a cup of tea or coffee with a cheese sandwich or to regale yourself with an ice-cream.

I decided to see a trade fair in the Town of Masters; local craftsmen sold their goods there. A lot of wonderful things which we need in our houses were made very skillfully. As usual, I lingered near the tent with CDs and DVDs and went away only with heaps of new discs of Vladimirskaya, Diorisiy and other musicians.

At 5 pm – World's Dances. I became tired and let them pass.

At 7 pm one more concert. There you could again see Diorisiy with his song “Angel’s Town” (wonderful performance!), the group “Harmony”, a musician Alim from the Abode of Dawn, the group “Door To Summer” from the Abode, too, Svetlana Vladimirskaya with her song “I don’t need more”, the studio “Kamerton” (“tuning fork”) and many other musicians. Between artists there was a Gypsy Roxanna who came here from Latvia.

When the concert was over, priests came and lighted candles; many blessed candles were given to guests. Then under the leadership of the priests we went back from the Island to the Temple of Blessing. People came to the Temple and gathered round it with alight candles waiting for Vissarion.

Then Vissarion got up, wished us happiness and went away. At that moment festive firework began. One volley after another, bunches of multicolored lights blew up into the dark sky and broke into many sparks, turned into wonderful flowers. The festival was over and guests began to go away.