Chesmenskaya Church

We ventured out even though it was cold and rainy. I forgot to take my gloves and as a result froze my hands for the sake of pictures. I hope you are thankful. Chesmenskaya Church is - surprise - another Russian Orthodox church in St.Petersburg, though pretty far south of downtown. So, a 40-minute metro ride and 20-minute confused walk later, we ran into it. It is kind of hidden away, and you walk behind a building and along a muddy path through the grass, and come upon it. It is so bright and candy-like against its gray overcast surroundings. Very interesting.
mudmudmud:
in the middle of nowhere:
a birch grove on one side of the church:
it may look big but it is actually pretty tiny:
The front. I guess I caught a woman bowing and crossing herself in front of the door. It took a number of attempts before I got one mostly straight and centered. My fingers were stiff from the cold and couldn't really hold the camera still:
We stumbled on a multiple-baby baptism when we went in. We missed the actual sprinkling, but were there for when the priest lifts the baby in front of the icon and makes a sign of the cross with its body while the mother kisses the painting of Mary:
Rainrainrain. Me and my stupid American umbrella that can't handle the wind here:
We braved the cold, rain and mud:
little graveyard behind the church filled with war heroes:
someone put an apple and fake flowers on his grave: