On Sunday, January 11, the parish Russian School at Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY, held its annual Nativity Yolka, organized with joy and gaiety by the efforts of the school’s students, teachers, and parents. After opening prayer, the school choir sang Christmas carols. School principal and parish rector Archpriest George Larin addressed the audience of parents and guests with an introduction, calling on them to dutifully raise our children Orthodox and Russian, using the example of Nyack’s school to demonstrate the spiritual and educational benefits reaped by children who are raised and educated in the Church. Honoring Nyack’s Nativity Yolka with his presence was His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan; among the audience members were clergy from Holy Protection and neighboring parishes: Archpriest Ilya Gorsky, Archpriest Yaroslav Belikow, Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky, and Deacon George Temidis.
The lights in the hall were then dimmed, music sounded out, the curtain rose, and the presentation began. The play, based on the Russian folk tale "Prince Ivan & the Gray Wolf," was put on by the students with a light and joyous humor. During the play, the audience repeatedly rewarded the actors with their laughter and applause. Both the acting and technical aspects of the play involved every participant of Nyack’s school – over 100 people.
"Cossacks" danced across the stage, little soldiers marched, and the beautiful Princess sat and grew bored watching the parade. Prince Ivan would fall into seemingly irreparable misfortunes, but his faithful friend the Gray Wolf was always able to help him out of his predicaments, never forgetting to scold him. Firebirds flew across the stage and swung on swings; palace girls danced the Moscow Quadrille, while beautiful horses galloped at full speed. Right on stage, able barbers transformed the Wolf into a princess (though by no means a beautiful one!). At the end of the tale, Ivan was able to overcome all of his trials with the Wolf’s help, and even made peace with his brothers, giving them the Kingdom while taking Vasilisa the Fair to be his bride.
Work on the play began by preparing the script during the summer months. In September, all of the parents who were able and willing to take part in the Christmas show signed their children up for the play, and began to help them study their parts. Rehearsals were primarily held between classes on Saturdays during Russian School. The music, costumes, decorations, props, dances, and sound system were all prepared by the teachers, parents, and upperclassmen themselves. Some of the costumes and decorations were available in the school’s storage, while some needed to be made from scratch: all sewn, built, and drawn by hand, including real swings for the Firebirds! Work on the play brought everybody closer together, and imparted many a joyous memory to child and adult alike. Bishop Nicholas, visiting Nyack’s school Yolka for the first time, was impressed by the large number of children taking part in the play.
After the show, the parents organized a bountiful free buffet, after which everyone gathered in a circle in the middle of the hall to sing carols around the Christmas tree, which was decorated with freshly baked cookies for the children. Almost all of the children tried to join in singing Russian carols, including "The Forest Raised a Christmas Tree" and "Soon Santa Claus [Grandfather Frost] will Visit Us," as they awaited the arrival of Santa Claus and his beautiful granddaughter, the Snow Maiden [Snegurochka]. They soon arrived, riding into the hall on large and colorfully painted sleigh, holding a golden staff with jingle bells and a bag of presents for all of the children, big and small. As the children came up to Santa in line, he imparted words of wisdom to every child along with his present.
Nyack’s Russian School is the oldest parish school on the East Coast, founded 60 years ago by Archpriest Seraphim Slobodskoy, the parish’s longtime rector and author of The Law of God, a textbook renowned not only around America, but now in Russia, as well. The parish school’s students use the book to this very day. There are currently over 100 students enrolled in the school, ages 4-17. Classes are held on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. All subjects are taught in Russian: the Law of God, Russian Language, Reading, Russian Literature, Russian History, Singing, and Geography. This year, 23 teachers teach at the school, all volunteers.
Everyone left the event well past dark, taking with them bright and joyful impressions of Christ’s Nativity, the festal Yolka, and the joy shining in the children’s eyes.
