What began as a fundraiser to help pay off a mortgage has grown into the Russian Days Festival that celebrated its 34th year this September. Sponsored by the 99-year-old St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, the first festival was held after the church moved from South Side Bethlehem to its current north Bethlehem location on Bridle Path Road.

Festival co-chair Sarah Jubinski, who has been involved in the project since the beginning, said there was a need to raise money and the idea of selling ethnic foods just grew over the years. The event grew as did the church, which eventually added a fellowship hall and kitchen.

More than 3,000 persons attended this year’s three-day event to eat ethnic foods, buy homemade desserts, listen to music and take tours of the ornately decorated church. On the menu were blini, borscht, chicken soup, haklupki, halushki, kugel, pelmeni, pierogie, pirozhki, potato pancakes, and sausage turkey and kielbasa sandwiches. Food was available to eat in or take out.

Back in the fellowship hall, the Russian tea room featured hobaked apricot, nut, poppy seed, raspberry and lekvar rolls; kiffles, babkas, tassies, assorted cakes, and more. For entertainment there was polka music and dancing.

The Very Reverend James Weremedic, in his fourth week as the new rector of St. Nicholas, provided tours of the church, whose walls were decorated with icons of saints and other figures. In response to a question about the difference between the various orthodox religions, he answered, “Countries of origin.”

Answering another question about the variations on the Russian Orthodox crucifix or Suppedaneum cross with its two extra bars, Father Weremedic explained that the top bar represents the plate that was attached to the top of the cross and inscribed with INRI . The bottom bar represents a footrest that is slanted toward the penitent thief crucified on Jesus’ right.

In his welcome in the festival program, the rector made it clear that Russian Days are about more than the initial fundraising effort.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to meet and share with you the culture, food, tradition and Orthodox Christian Faith of the Russian people.”