FP, the lack of joyousness struck me last night. I live just uphill from a Russian Orthodox church, a matter of yards. They have their Easter service the night before Easter, ending with a dinner about 3:00 AM. They won't have another service until 2:00 this afternoon. (This, by way of the Rector's wife.)

But. I knew they ring the church bell as part of their tradition but at 12:00 last night they strated ringing it- after I started counting the whangs I counted 179 of the blessed things.

I had just gone to bed and there was no way I could think my own thoughts. It's a tiny church and most of the people around here are not Orthodox, most of us are tolerant people but I felt intruded upon.

However, if I had felt there was joy being expressed (He lives! He lives! I would have made allowances for it. But there was no joy, no rollicking, no message.

Why? I'm going to ask them next time I meet them out dog-walking.