Blooming corner: How children turned the territory of the temple in Novopolotsk into an oasis of beauty
The children's choir of the Novopolotsk Secondary School No. 2 named after E. Trapeznikova has been cooperating with the church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "Unexpected Joy" for seven years. The opportunity to sing the liturgy is a serious exam and a good life school for children. They are required to be responsible, attentive, responsive, hardworking, and humble. Studying the wisdom of worship, children gradually get used to the choir. Every Saturday they come to the church for worship and charge the parishioners with their light and joy.
In 2021, the members of the choir began the transformation of the temple territory and laid the so–called small "Gethsemane garden", because since ancient times monasteries and churches have been decorated with flowers, famous for their rich gardens and extraordinarily beautiful landscaping - this is how people, creating a small paradise on earth, showed their love and gratitude to God. We had serious work ahead of us. The children, together with their parents, cleared the territory, laid out flower beds, planted flowers and shrubs. Hydrangea bushes flashed with bright colors, neatly trimmed spiraea pleased the eye with their greenery. Lavender, verbena and petunias radiated a subtle floral fragrance, fluffy thuja turned into slender beauties, cut in a spiral. An extraordinary number of birds flew to our small makeshift pond to quench their thirst. Sparrows, pigeons and cats were peacefully side by side, giving way to each other at the watering hole.
Over time, the garden turned into a colorful cozy corner. A flower arch appeared, it was decorated with bright ribbons with bells that fill the garden with gentle sounds. On Christmas, Easter, and Trinity holidays, children decorate their corner with Christmas tree toys, burning lamps, and flowers. The guys have a desire to invest a piece of themselves in this corner, and the result of their work is admired by others.
Zhanna BELUN, teacher of secondary school No. 3 named after E. Trapeznikova in Novopolotsk.
