« A pilgrimage to the saints of Wales »

On Saturday, May 21, 2022, with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, the clergy and parishioners of the Diocesan District of Northern England and Wales went on pilgrimage to the Welsh shrines.

The pilgrimage group was headed by priest Anatoly Vikhrov, Rector of the parishes of St. Ksenia of St. Petersburg in Leeds and of the Meeting of the Lord in Bradford.

In Blaenau Ffestiniog, a small town in the north of Wales, there is a church of All the Welsh Saints. At the invitation of the Rector, Father Deiniol (Davis), the pilgrims visited the church and took part in the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.  Liturgical hymns were sung by the singers from the Church of All Saints of Wales and from the Intercession Church in Manchester.

At the end of the divine service, Father Anatoly addressed Father Deiniol with words of greeting and gratitude for his hospitality, expressing words of gratitude for his assistance in organizing the pilgrimage.  After the Liturgy, there was a communal meal, which gave strength to the pilgrims before their trip to the holy spring of St. Celynnin (VI century) in the town of Llangelynnin.

In a deserted place among the sheep pastures, there is an ancient XII century church, dedicated to the local Welsh Saint Celynnin. Not far from the church there is a holy spring, at which Father Anatoly celebrated a water-blessing moleben.

Communication between the clergy and the parishioners continued in the picturesque town of Conwy on the seashore, where the pilgrims organized a meal.

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