My Header

I get so many questions about my header I decided to leave an explanation here. The photograph in my header was taken by my husband from our Bed and Breakfast bedroom window in Conwy, Wales. We were staying at Bryn B & B right adjacent to the castle wall. This was a trip we took in May of 2006 with 4 of our friends. While in Conwy we ate at the most wonderful restaurant, Bistro Conwy. We also tried to climb Mt. Snowden but the weather was against us that day.

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17 Responses

on April 2, 2008 at 7:51 am | Reply Iren

Hi Ellen,

Are you from Molokan’s family? I am from Molokan’s family. My Grand mother’s family (Shubins, Morozovs and Karyakins) emigrated from Kars to Stavropol and later to Tbilisi, Georgia. But her older sister Maria Vedenoff (passed away in the middle of 70-th) immigrated with her husband and three children to California. Also I know that My Grand mother’s cousin with his family also moved to California. Their family name was Shubin. I really would like to find some relatives, though I know that probably most of them already dead, or very old… May be some their children, grand-children remember something about the family roots? And may be somebody could advise if there is a Molokan’s comunity in Canada?

Thank you,
Iren (from Montreal, QC)
- on February 17, 2010 at 5:19 pm | Reply Michelle (Mana) Cox
  
  Hello All ,
  Iren I could not help but notice your post and I am so excited to see some family names I recognize. My last name was Mana before getting married and my fathers Aunt Nell married a Shubin (I hope I have this “history” right.) My father is Ron Mana and he as well as his brothers and sisters (Butch Mana, Gayle Mana, Roseann Mana, and Pat Mana) were practically raised on the Shubin farm in Kerman California (The helped with the cotton picking and grape picking in the summer) My Great Aunt Nell was married to my Great Uncle Abe Shubin and believe their kids were my Uncles Walt and Gary Shubin. My grandmother Sarah (Sadie) Mana and grandfather Frank Mana were also related to the Kobseff’s (My grandmothers maiden name) who were also by marriage related to David, Nickie and Max Bizieff (I have a picture of all of them as kids in Kerman) I am very very excited to try and find some of my father (Ronnie Mana’s) relaitives if anyone knows my family please update me, we are having a big 70th birthday party for him in March. My email addresses are (please use both) Michelle.Cox@med.navy.mil and MsMichelle29@yahoo.com
on July 11, 2008 at 11:09 am | Reply nainaitok

hey Ellen..new visitor…
It’s a great header.. I love castle and green colour…
Im going to travel this August..and going to see alot of castles ..:)
on November 18, 2008 at 8:44 am | Reply Sheila

Ellen, I came back by for a second look at your header, and then I saw this link. So it’s WALES! Beautiful. There is a castle that looks much like this on Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. This is equally lovely.

Sheila
on January 13, 2009 at 3:15 pm | Reply Kylie

Hello, I am going to my grandma’s Molokan funeral and I do not know what to wear besides that it must be light colored. Where do I find a babuska (the scarf?) Can I just wear any type of scarf? help!
on January 13, 2009 at 10:36 pm | Reply crittyjoy

I have always thought your header looked familiar and now I know why! I visited Conwy Castle several years ago.

Beautiful photo…I so love it there
on January 15, 2010 at 5:17 pm | Reply Hazel

I finally read about your header because I too have been wondering about it but always thought it is from Europe. I was in England in April 2006 and now I want to visit again
on January 23, 2010 at 11:27 am | Reply Daxie

Gorgeous photo! My husband and I travelled in Britain on our honeymoon and that castle was one of the highlights of our trip.
on February 11, 2010 at 4:30 pm | Reply Jeanette

Wow! This is fantastic! I have tried for yrs to explain this “religion” to people but couldn’t quite do it justice! Wonderful job. There is a LARGE portion that is left out ..like Maxim’s deviant beliefs (see “A Labor of Love” by Paul Efseaff). There is also no mention of the witchcraft that is practiced. Many will not admit to it but this “religion” is steeped in it. I know of it from personal experience(s). I grew up in the Molokan church. My family were the “jumpers”. When my parents became Christians, they were ex-communicated.

Thank you for the hard work!
- on February 11, 2010 at 5:02 pm | Reply Ellen
  
  You know I think my grandfather was akin to a medicine man amongst the Molokan people…
  I’m glad you found this helpful.
  Blessings on your life with Christ…
- on November 11, 2010 at 11:23 am | Reply v
  
  Jeanette,
  
  I am curious as to what this ‘witchcraft’ is. I was raised molokan and have no recollections of anything of the sort.
- on March 16, 2011 at 10:37 pm | Reply Leslie Brown
  
  Oh! Now I see it was Jeanette’s post that brought me to this site as a result of my google search for “A Labor of Love” by Paul Efseaff .
  
  Wasn’t that a great book?
  
  My Mom’s side of the family was Molokan. I didn’t grow up in the church but visited for weddings, funerals and holy days. I enjoyed ‘the culture’….maybe it’s because I only understood very few words.
  
  My Mom didn’t understand the ‘faith of her fathers’ and the siblings that were active Molokans didn’t seem to want to talk about it.
  
  I was so happy to receive that book which explained the origins of the faith, the rise of Maxim, his false prophecies, seduction of teen aged girls and extra Biblical book.
  
  I never saw or experienced anything having to do with witchcraft. However, the origins of the Molokan, Mormon and Muslim religions seem to have originated from the same deceitful source; claiming a new prophet, with a new revelation, a new work (Spirit and Life, Book of Mormon, Quran) and a lust for young women.
  
  Thankfully, most of us in the third generation have been found by Jesus and are followers of Him.
on March 10, 2010 at 6:00 am | Reply Tracy F.

My son toured England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. He has always said that Wales was his favorite. I can see why! Your header photo is gorgeous.
on March 16, 2011 at 5:02 pm | Reply Leslie Brown

I was just in correspondence with my cousins and was trying to remember the history of the Molokan people, which I learned about in the book “A Labor of Love” by Paul. A. Efseaff.

After googling the title name and author, I was directed to your website. We are from the line of Shubin’s that settled in Boyle Heights, and owned a market. Are you any relation to Mr. Efseaff?
- on May 8, 2011 at 8:33 pm | Reply Ron
  
  I mixed up my post above, and called myself Ellen! Sorry!! I am related to the Efsaeff people, and some Shubins.
on March 16, 2011 at 10:48 pm | Reply Leslie Brown

Hi, Ellen?

I stumbled upon this blog in my search for something else.
And now I feel like a intruder and I’m confused.

After posting something, I got an email asking me to confirm or subscribe. I’m not sure what I’m subscribing to. Is this a personal family and friends blog? Or is it public?

I see two conversations going on. How did the subject get on Molokans when it seems the topic was your trip to Wales?

Sincerely, Leslie Brown
- on April 4, 2012 at 4:28 pm | Reply Ellen
  
  I don’t know how my header explanation became a place for comments about Molokans…
  Leslie.
  We really loved Wales!