This past weekend was a bright and joyous one at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Washington, DC. On Saturday, January 14, the local scouts held their traditional Yolka celebration. Prior to the start of the concert, the scouts visited sick and elderly parishioners, congratulating them on Christ’s Nativity and singing Christmas carols. The following day, January 15, the feast of one of the most beloved Russian saints – Venerable Seraphim of Sarov – two Yolkas were held in the cathedral hall: one for English-speaking and one for Russian-speaking parishioners.

Before the Yolka presentations, virtually all of the participants of the Nativity celebrations prayed at the divine services and communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

After the English Liturgy, Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen; former Primate of the Orthodox Church in America) and parish Priests John Johnson and Damian Dantinne congratulated the children with the feast. Children joined their parents in singing carols and rejoicing in the radiant feast of Christ’s Nativity.

Upon completion of the Slavonic Liturgy, the young parishioners gathered in the church hall where they were greeted by cathedral rector Archpriest Victor Potapov. Fr. Victor congratulated them all with the great feast the Nativity of Christ and the coming feast of the Lord’s Baptism (Theophany); he explained the meaning of the feasts, of svyatki (Christmastide), and of various Nativity traditions.

The children sang carols, while the younger group of the dance ensemble "Matryoshka" offered lively dance numbers. Poems were read, the violin was played, students of musical director Victoria Sukharev sang folk and contemporary songs, and children attentively watched animated films prepared for them.

The performance was directed by Galina Ivanov. The parish’s "very own" Grandfather Frost (Santa Claus) entertained children and adults alike, danced with them and, of course, distributed presents (prepared in advance by the parish sisterhood).

All in all, close to 100 children participated in at least one of three parish Yolkas, prepared by the parents and teachers of the parish Sunday school. All departed for home happy and contented, taking with them Christmas joy to share with friends.