“The Ninth Hour”

Yaroslavl

On March 15 Pastor Agris Pilsums, who serves the Lutheran congregations in Ilukste, Subate and Lasi (Latvia), drove his car to Yaroslavl and brought with him the diptych “The Ninth Hour” („Devītā stunda"), painted by his wife, Art History specialist Daiga Pilsuma.
The diptych will become the altar picture in Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Yaroslavl. Christ's Passion as portrayed in the paint fits in well with the rough, once-destroyed-and-now-being restored interior of the church. It reminds us both of death and God's victory over death.
Church council President Igor Fedder, lay preacher Artis Petersons, congregational Pastor Ivan Shirokov and Area Dean Elena Bondarenko were there to receive the painting. A celebration is being planned for this summer for the dedication of the painting.