Axia has a new Woman of the Week, a scholar who specializes in conversion in Orthodox communities! We asked her to tell you a little about herself.
“Hi! I'm Sarah Riccardi-Swartz (@theacademicsofbeauty). I'm an anthropologist/documentary filmmaker, wife, and mom to a special needs toddler. I converted to the Orthodox Church in 2011 during my research with a small Orthodox community in SW Missouri. I continue to focus my research within U.S. Orthodox communities. My first book looks at conversion in the ROCOR communities in Appalachia. My next book project will explore the lives and experiences of women in contemporary Orthodox settings. In 2017, I filmed, edited, and produced a short documentary about the reproduction of icons entitled Pixelating Holiness. It screened at film festivals and is now being distributed by Documentary Educational Resources (DER). Outside of academia, I am active in my home parish, Sts. Peter and Paul, where my husband is a subdeacon. We were married in the summer of 2014 and two weeks later we moved to the NYC metro area so I could attend NYU for a Ph.D. The fourth time we met in person we were wed. Long distance relationships can work! We enjoy making documentaries together, cooking, brewing beer, and attending concerts. Feel free to follow me on Instagram if you'd like to see a bit more of my life!”
Axia!
We asked our Woman of the Week, Sarah Riccardi-Swartz, about her experience as a mother in the Church:
“Clementine, my four-year old daughter, was diagnosed as autistic in January of 2019, although my instincts realized this reality when she was much younger. Clem is expressively nonverbal, although her receptive language skills are excellent. She's always loved church, and when she was little I would wear her in a sling while singing in the choir. As she got older and more mobile, we had to move to a pew a few rows behind the choir. Church with children can be difficult, and that is often ramped up when they have special needs. Because Clem loves to verbally and physically stimm during church it's a challenge to keep her occupied and happy. It's also hard on her when she hears someone singing off-key or if she has to wait in a line. Thankfully, our parish is very kind and people try to make sure we are at the front of the line for communion, veneration, etc. We've found a nice Church regimen that seems to work for the time. We light candles and venerate the icons upon entering. During the service Clem plays with felt pieces (quiet, sensory toys!). Often other toddler girls in our parish will come join us in our pew. Then we put the toys away during the Lord's prayer in order to prepare for communion. Clem loves receiving the eucharist. Afterwards we go back to our pew, where Clem eats prosphora and drinks Holy Water. Right now this is working for us. Feel free to DM me with any tips you have or if you're a mom of a special needs kiddo who wants to connect with other moms. ”
As our last post from Woman of the Week Sarah Riccardi-Swartz, we asked how she starts her day.
“My morning routine is dependent upon the time of year and whether or not school is in session. It's also depends upon my husband's work schedule and if my mom, who we invited to live with us, is awake and active. Typically, I rise between 5:45-6:00am and spend moments quietly preparing myself for the day. Sometimes my daughter Clementine, who is autistic, is already awake. Other times, I have rouse her, which often comes with a good bit of crying. Then I grind coffee beans, we're currently big fans of Sunergos Coffee in our house, and set up the electric pourover (a must for those of us who are coffee-obsessed!).
Next on the agenda is prepping Clem's lunch, which is generally vegetarian, since she has a particular palate. Right now, she's loving Cuban-style black beans with lactose-free cheese and crackers. After I pack her lunch, I get Clementine into her uniform before getting myself dressed. Then we watch Daniel Tiger (on PBS) in the living room and wait for her bus to show up. Usually the bus arrives at 7:15am. I take her down to our corner and we recite colors while waiting. Once Clem on her way, I head back to the house for another cup of coffee. Some days I do a bit of light housekeeping, but more often than not I either settle into my home office or head to a coffee shop to write. This fall is different than most, since I am not teaching at the university. Having the time to write is wonderful, but it means I need to add more structure and organization to my day. I find that having a to-do list and sticking to it really helps.”
Thank you, Sarah!
