As I was leaving Church after the liturgy for Transfiguration (Aug. 7th), I noticed that a car had parked on the road, and that a young couple were walking towards the Church. I welcomed them and asked if I could help them. Well, this young couple were just on their way back home to Regina from their honeymoon(!) and wanted to check out St. Nicholas.  Brendan Olenick (who happens to be a real estate photographer) and his wife Bryann, like to tramp around and video old prairie Churches (just like ours) and document them  for his Youtube channel (Awesome prairie Churches). Both Brenden and Bryann attend St. George’s Romanian Orthodox Church in Regina (where they were married just the past week), and as  we talked we soon realized we know many of the same people, and have visited many of the same places (even been together at a service without realizing it).  

I have to say that at first I was a little sheepish about them filming the Church, as I would have liked to have lit candles and put flowers on the tetrapod and cleaned up a bit.  But as we entered the nave, I realized that I didn’t really need to fuss about it, as it really didn’t matter. Even though the Church was empty and silent, it nonetheless radiated the same kind of beauty and warmth that it radiates when it is full of people and is noisy with the giggles of children, singing, and censers clanging. Wow!

Thankfully, I think that Brendan’s video (including his drone footage) captures this beautifully. 

You can find the video of St. Nicholas on his Youtube page or Facebook page, and I encourage everyone to see the wonderful work both he and Bryann have done.