Konfirmácia

This past weekend I went to visit my old placement in Horná Mičiná to see their confirmation. It was really interesting to see how confirmation is done in Slovakia and it’s a much bigger deal than what my confirmation was like in America. I got to Horná Mičiná on Saturday and had lunch with the Pastor’s family. Then at 5:00 the confirmands had their examination. All year the Pastor told me how terrible this confirmation class was- it was 17 teenagers from about 5 different villages in this area, and they were not interested in confirmation at all. They knew they would have this examination but didn’t care or want to study for it, until the day before when they freaked out about it. The examination was during a church service- it began with the confirmands walking in and sitting together in the front of the church, an opening hymn, a Bible reading and a prayer. Then the confirmands were called up one by one to the front of the church to be examined. The Pastor asked each of them 7 questions about the Bible, confirmation, and the church in general, and they had to answer in front of everyone. It was kind of funny seeing these poor kids stand up there in front of everyone so nervous! After all of them were questioned, which took a very long time, the Pastor asked the congregation if they approved of them being confirmed. Everyone agreed that they should be confirmed, and the service ended with another prayer and hymn.

Then on Sunday there was a big service for the confirmation, and I was so surprised how many people came. I have never seen the church here so crowded. Everyone came- all of their families and extended families, and so many people just from the villages. The church was decorated with beautiful white and yellow flowers, and everyone was really dressed up. The service began with the pastor and all of the confirmands walking in and sitting in the front. The girls looked like princesses- they had gorgeous white gowns on and their hair all done up, and the guys had suits on. The Pastor called each of the confirmands to the front, said a prayer for them, presented them with a certificate and a Bible, and read their Bible verse. (They each choose a Bible verse for their confirmation). The confirmands sang a sing together for the congregation (which they were extremely unenthusiastic about- I barely heard them singing and I was sitting in the front!) They then thanked the Pastor and the church keeper by presenting them with flowers. There was the usual Gospel reading, prayers, hymns, and sermon that are in the services also. Then, we went through the liturgy for the Lord’s Supper and had communion. The service ended up lasting quite a long time with all of the special things for confirmation, and communion, but it was a really nice service, and so nice to see so many people in church. After the service many of the parents of the confirmands invited the Pastor and family over for a meal, and so the Pastor has to eat a lot and make a lot of visits. I was invited along also and made it to one meal before I had to catch my bus back. I was really surprised at how elaborate it was- like a big reception! We went to Banska Bystrica and had a catered lunch. It was two sisters who were confirmed, their Godparents, parents, grandparents, extended family, the pastor’s family, and me (maybe 25-30 people). I could not believe how much food and wine there was- outrageous! There was an appetizer (which I could have had alone for lunch- but that is unheard of here!), then soup, then the main meal of meat, rice and cabbage. Then there were tons of cakes for dessert. I had a lot of fun hanging out and talking with the two girls after the meal, and then I had to catch the bus back to Poprad. I was so thankful that I only was able to go to one meal though- I was so full afterwards, and I have no idea how the Pastor can then go to more houses and eat and drink more! At Christmas, they told me as we were visiting people in the village that the only thing worse than Christmas is Confirmation, and now I know what they mean. It was a lot of fun though, and really interesting to see how Confirmation is in Slovakia. I was really surprised at how big of a deal it is, because Baptism is much more private here, so I would have thought confirmation would have been similar. In the Pastor’s sermon he talked about how he hopes this isn’t the last time he sees the confirmands in church, and how they are not finished with church, but they are making an oath to God. I thought this was interesting because the church here encounters the same problem as many churches in America- oftentimes confirmation is the last time so many people are in church; they get confirmed and then seemed to be finished with church.

So, I returned back to Veľký Slavkov on Sunday night and began another week of work here. Everything has been going as usual, of course as usual here means some unusual things happening. One guy broke his wrist, another was in the hospital with a stomach infection (which they said was from eating too much of the conserved meat, which made me not want to eat that). Then there is a new guy whose name is Rudo, and I just met him yesterday, but he seems nice. I am excited for this weekend because I will take a trip to Budapest with some of the other volunteers. I will take lots of pictures and tell you all about it!