Between Two Evils by Lucyna B. Radlo

Author:Lucyna B. Radlo
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General Fiction
Publisher: McFarland
Published: 2012-08-22T16:00:00+00:00

14

Obshchina

Soon after our arrival in Regensburg, we were told of a Russkaya obshchina (Russian community center), which was housed in that city in a rented German Gasthaus (restaurant) at Silberne Gasse 17. There, several Russian women ran a stolovaya (dining hall), charging minimal prices for hardy, tasty home-cooked meals. At the obshchina one could not only eat one’s favorite lunch or dinner, but also meet one’s countrymen. Like the Polish community at the camp, there at the obshchina Russian refugees would hang around, hoping to meet a lost friend or make a new contact. They were of different ages and walks of life. Misha, in particular, visited the center daily, not so much to eat meals, since he had the best cooking at home, but to discuss and plan activities for the stranded Russian community. There were two priests, Father Vasiliy and Father Fiodor. These two clergymen were in constant disharmony and competition, and Misha very often tried to calm down their disagreements and disputes for the sake of the parishioners. Sometime later, a third priest by the name of Starikov was ordained. As a personal gift at Father Starikov’s ordainment, Misha gave him a sterling silver cross. It so happened that when we moved to Santa Barbara in 1973, we discovered that Father Starikov, after emigrating to the United States, had settled in Santa Barbara where he founded the Russian Orthodox Church on Castillo Street. Unfortunately, he died just before we arrived in California.

The obshchina was a haven during those difficult times for those without a country and without a family. Poetry readings, concerts, and children’s plays were staged during the evenings. All holiday celebrations, weddings, and even trapezas (funeral receptions) took place there. It was there that one day a young Russian ex-soldier (actually a deserter) joined in singing Russian songs. He had a most beautiful lyric tenor voice. It was as clear as a bell! His very sentimental rendition of Russian gypsy songs was astounding and we all would not let him stop singing. To our surprise, in addition to gypsy songs, he knew many of the old White Russian prerevolutionary melodies that brought back nostalgic memories to many former White Russians like Misha. He also sang, unfamiliar to many, Soviet war songs, which differed quite a bit from the upbeat, peppy White Russian ones. The Soviet songs were very melodic, but full of sadness and sorrows, almost heartbreaking. Through them one could picture the lonely life of a young Soviet army soldier. One song followed another and the requests were endless! He was happy to oblige and was ecstatic to be so warmly received. At last he felt at home among his own! After this evening and in later meetings, Misha was so impressed with this young man’s voice and his innocent boyish personality that he very seriously tried to convince Sonya to adopt this young and lonely soldier. Misha, in the same way that Sonya felt about Stepan, our wagon helper, saw in this lad the image of their lost son Igor.

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