A letter most weeks, when the bell and the exams allow. Read it slowly, it was written quickly.
11 Oct 2026 · Issue 30The north quarterA short letter on the news that the whole hill has been waiting for.24 Aug 2026 · Issue 29The Feast, once moreHeat, bells, a hundred and fifty thousand, they say. And one candle that went out three times.17 May 2026 · Issue 28A tile baking in the old kilnThe first new tiles for the dome, fired in a village kiln below the Chatkal.24 Dec 2025 · Issue 27Yalda eveFive years of letters, and this is the first one I have written in snow.24 Aug 2025 · Issue 26Pilgrims, a countNot a prediction, only a few numbers from this year's Feast.08 Jun 2025 · Issue 25What the Archbishop said to meI had expected a longer speech.23 Mar 2025 · Issue 24Silence in FastA letter about what happens when the choir stops.04 Oct 2024 · Issue 23The Season of MosesThe Archbishop's yearly letter was read in every parish this morning.30 Jun 2024 · Issue 22Why the lamps are brassA small question from a visitor, and what the sacristan answered.18 Feb 2024 · Issue 21Fasting food: a shopping listA practical letter for the first week of the Fast.14 Nov 2023 · Issue 20The names, againBell, courtyard, a long list.15 Aug 2023 · Issue 19A candle for the fifteenthThe families who remember Urkun came again, a few more than two years ago.09 Apr 2023 · Issue 18Easter, the full cathedralA long night, a short letter.12 Mar 2023 · Issue 17Counting the tilesMen with ladders and clipboards came up the hill this week.20 Nov 2022 · Issue 16Yuhanna of MervA saint who walked a very long road to a very small town.14 Sep 2022 · Issue 15After the CrossThe Feast of the Cross ends the long season of pilgrims and starts the long season of pairs of hands.24 Aug 2022 · Issue 14The Feast of St. Janyl, from the north doorA night of candles, a morning of bells, and one family leaving.12 Jun 2022 · Issue 13A funeral in the laneA short letter about Aibek-ata, who sold milk on the hill for forty years.17 Apr 2022 · Issue 12Easter, with the doors openThe first Resurrection with the people inside again.30 Jan 2022 · Issue 11Frost and the thuribleA practical letter: how the incense behaves at minus eighteen.14 Nov 2021 · Issue 10The bell and the namesEvery year on 14 November the great bell tolls for the clergy and the people taken in 1937.15 Aug 2021 · Issue 9The fifteenth of AugustA day with no feast in the book, kept by the families.27 Jun 2021 · Issue 8A letter about walkingThe Season of the Apostles takes the church out of the church.09 May 2021 · Issue 7A kümöch recipe, since you askedThe unleavened bread of our liturgy is simpler than people think and harder than it looks.04 Apr 2021 · Issue 6Easter at the doorThe Resurrection, with the people outside and the Gospel on the steps.14 Mar 2021 · Issue 5What a deacon does on a weekdayA short list, for the people who ask.14 Feb 2021 · Issue 4The board that opens the FastThe Great Fast opens with a sound, not a word.06 Jan 2021 · Issue 3My feastThe Epiphany is called Denha in our language. A short letter, because the incense is still in my sleeves.25 Dec 2020 · Issue 2Yalda under masksThe Season of Yalda and Denha begins. Most of the faithful are at home this year.06 Dec 2020 · Issue 1First letter, from the side of the altarA new deacon starts a blog because the seminary told him to write down what he learns.