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The pilgrims gather
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Parish Pilgrimage to St Winefride's well in Holywell - 26/05/2007
On the morning before Pentecost, a small group of parishioners and visitors met at the chapel of St Elisabeth for a Pannikhida, where we offered prayers and hymns for the repose of our departed loved ones, in the hope that God would show His mercy upon them and draw them to Himself.
Afterwards, we set off for the town of Holywell in North Wales where we were joined by more of our parish family and extended family to make pilgrimage to the holy well of St Winefride. At the generous hospitality of the custodian of the well, we shared lunch in the nave of the shrine church, before moving to the shrine shop and display, where we learnt more about the life of St Winefride.
We then moved to the well itself, which spring up on the site of the miraculous restoration to life of St Winefride after her beheading, by God's grace and at the hands of her uncle, St Beuno, at whose faith and intercession her head was restored to her. It was very moving indeed to learn of her faithfulness to God, even in the face of death. At the well, we sang Great Vespers of the Eve of Pentecost, and were sprinkled with water from the well. Some of the faithful drank of the water while others filled buckets and yet others bathed their feet in the pool which is fed by the well and which contains the very stone where St Winefride was beheaded.
The whole afternoon was spent in Christian love as we gathered in one place with one accord, as did the Apostles on the day of Pentecost so many years ago.
Holy Winefride, pray to God for us!
(36 images)
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Packing the picnic
Setting off
Pilgrims arrive at Holywell
Parking
Pilgrims on their way to the shrine
Pilgrims on their way to the shrine
The shrine church (left) and the Anglican parish church (right)
The sign on the shrine church
The poolside oratory (left) and museum (right)
Matushka Elisabeth at the shrine church entrance
Inside the church, even the littlest came to pay homage to St Winefride
The east window
The east window
Pilgrims
O happy band of pilgrims!
Group photo
A statue of St Winefride on the approach to the well
Pilgrims on their way to the well
A pilgrim having a moment at the pool, fed from the well
A pilgrim having a moment at the pool, fed from the well
The Cross in the oratory next to the pool
The statue of Our Lady with the infant Lord in the oratory
The statue of Our Lady with the infant Lord in the oratory
Fr Ian and Fr Paul preparing for Vespers
The holy stone where St Winefride's head came to rest
Preparing for Vespers
Pilgrims drinking water from the well
The well enclosure
The well enclosure
St Winefride's well
The well canopy
The holy well
Satisfied pilgrims returning home
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Vladika's friendly chauffeur
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Parish Pilgrimage to St Werburgh's Shrine - 13/02/2007
On the second day of his visitation to the parish, Vladika led some clergy and a small group of the faithful in a pilgrimage to the Shrine of St Werburgh in Chester Cathedral. St Werburgh was an Abbess at Ely and foundress of other monastic communities in the British Isles when these lands were still Orthodox.
We were treated to the generous hospitality of the Dean and staff at Chester Cathedral, who permitted us to use the Lady Chapel in the retro-choir for a Moleben service. We were then treated to a guided tour of the cathedral, and took a walk around Chester, visiting the ancient city walls, before returning to the cathedral refectory for a delicious lunch.
Some memories were captured in photograph and are reproduced here.
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Vladika sets off for the shrine
A view of Chester cathedral from the city walls
Fr Michael and Fr Paul on the way into the cathedral
Pilgrims on the way into the cathedral
Introductions
Vladika at the holy shrine of St Werburgh, with Fr Paul (right) and the Dean of Chester, the Very Revd Gordon McPhate (left)
Fr Michael speaks with the Dean
Pilgrims at the shrine
Pilgrims at the shrine
Pilgrims at the shrine
Vladika and the Dean
Marina at the shrine of St Werburgh
Seraphima speaks with Vladika
Seraphima speaks with Vladika
The Gospel Book and Icon at the shrine, for the veneration of the faithful
Michael bumps into a friend at the cathedral
Michael at a prophetic sign
A view from the city walls
Walking along the city walls
Fr Andrew and Michael at the ancient city wall
Vladika and Father Paul experience the effects of the wind
Fr Andrew in traditional ecclesiastical attire
The parish icon of St Werburgh
Father Michael takes a rest
Vladika crosses the bridge
Vladika with the pilgrims before he said goodbye
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Fr Andrew having a moment
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An evening with Archbishop Kyrill - 12/02/2007
The parish is very grateful to the Synod and to Archbishop Kyrill of the Diocese of San Francisco and Western America for the opportunity to discuss some of the issues surrounding the pending restoration of normal relations with the Church in Russia, scheduled to reach completion on the 17th of May this year. There have been some difficult times, especially with the recent schism in the Diocese of Great Britain and the departure of some of our beloved fellow parishioners, so it was good to have the chance to speak about this, face-to-face, in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Vladika was helpfully clear and heart-warmingly candid about the situation and his own experiences, and many of us walked away feeling much more hopeful about our future as a church and a diocese.
This gathering also gave us the chance to see people whom we don't see very often and to welcome one of our friends from the Moscow Patriarchate, and, as is usually the case when Orthodox people get together, there was food aplenty. Also with us were Fr Andrew Phillips from the Parish of St John the Wonderworker in Felixstowe, and Fr Michael from the St Petroc Monastery in Tasmania.
Here are a few photographs of the evening.
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Fr Paul and Fr Michael discuss the finer points of art and architecture
Priest Descending a Staircase
Clergy and a parishioner at a relaxed evening with Vladika
Parish gathering with Vladika
Parish gathering with Vladika
Matushka with the newest addition to our parish family
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