And now, time for some good news.

This weekend my family and I were in Dallas for the wedding of a dear family friend: Mariya Grygorenko, who married Ryan Mancl. Masha’s father, Vladimir, is my godfather in Orthodoxy, and a well-known iconographer. And he is the very proud father of three children, of whom Masha — who once babysat our children! — is the oldest.

The Grygorenkos emigrated to the US from Ukraine in 2000, I think it was. They settled eventually in Dallas, where they raised three children, two of whom — Masha and her brother Andriy — are out in the world doing well professionally. The youngest, Katya, is still in high school. Vladimir and Olga were born under a totalitarian dictatorship, and grew up under hardship. Vladimir’s father is a non-practicing Jew, and suffered from Soviet anti-Semitism. Vladimir’s parents divorced legally (though they stayed together, and are still together) so he could take his Christian mother’s last name; otherwise, he would have had his academic future curtailed by Soviet Jew-hatred. That’s the kind of world they left behind to make a new life in America. No wonder they are both now such passionate American patriots. There was nothing that they wouldn’t sacrifice for their kids. Their family was such an icon to my family, of what a faithful, loving Orthodox family looks like. We wouldn’t have missed Masha’s wedding for anything.

Orthodox weddings are so beautiful. This one was especially so, because Masha was married in a temple that God glorified through the hand of her father, who did all the iconography. Can you imagine? Here’s a shot I took with my iPhone, in which I tried to capture the dazzling beauty all around:

Vladimir made that iconography, all of it. I wonder if he ever thought, as he labored high up in the dome of the cathedral, that he was painting the faces of holy men and women, and of the Lord Jesus Christ, who would one day look down upon his firstborn child, as she was joined in holy matrimony with her husband. (You can see more of Vladimir’s iconography here, at his website, and even buy some.)

Here is Andriy Grygorenko congratulating his sister in the church. The love the members of this family have for each other is a wonder to behold:

I was late getting to the reception last night, in part because my Uber driver got lost. So I missed Vladimir’s toast to the couple. My wife was there, and said there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Vladimir gave me the text of his remarks, which I present to you here:

Remember what God did for you — He always had a plan. Please, have His Image continuously before you. May God bless your marriage and give you a long and happy life together!

Today you made a family. It means that you are no longer two independent individuals cohabitating in the same space but are united into one body under Christ.

Beginning today, you will share each other’s success and failure, joy and sorrow, debts and bank accounts.

For my highly competitive daughter: Masha, stop competing with your husband! His success is yours anyway! Instead, share your love and respect with him. And you Ryan, do the same! That is the only way to live your life.

Simple but practical advice: Every day you need to tell each other: “I love you!” No, “honey,” “sweetie,” or even “pumpkin” does not count — only these three important words. It worked for Olga and me for thirty-two years, so it should definitely work for you.

And finally: in our difficult time, this country needs more hard-working Americans. So, my personal request for you, Mariya: stop working so hard — we need grandchildren!

Let us raise our glasses to Mr. and Mrs. Mancl, and wish them many happy years together!

At the reception, I said to Vladimir, “You are a long way from Dnipropetrovsk,” his Ukrainian hometown. He smiled. The Grygorenko family came to America searching for a new life, a better life, and they found it. What a blessing America has been to them, and believe me, what a blessing they have been to America, and to the Americans who have been graced by their friendship.

Here’s a shot of father, daughter, and the new son-in-law, Ryan, at the reception. Ryan has married into quite a family! May God grant the Mancls many years!