« A pilgrimage to the tomb of St. Cedd of Lastingham »

On Saturday, November 9, 2019, a pilgrimage to Lastingham took place to the resting place of St. Cedd of Lastingham, Bishop of Essex.

The clergy and parishioners from the parishes of the Diocesan District of the North of England and Wales, from Saints Aidan and Chad parish in Nottingham, parishioners from London and Cambridge and from other cities of Great Britain took part in the pilgrimage.

The Divine Liturgy was headed by Priest Anatoly Vikhrov, Rector of the parish of St. Xenia of St.Petersburg in Leeds and of the parish of the Meeting of the Lord in Bradford. Fr.Anatoly was assisted by Archpriest George Butler, Rector of the Church of St. Aidan and St.Chad in Nottingham, and Priest Victor Akhryapin, clergy of the Church of St. George the Victorious in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Liturgical chants were sung by the choir of St. Cedd parish (London) under the leadership of Choirmaster Elena Davydova.

After the divine service, a procession and a moleben took place at the grave of St. Cedd, which is located in the crypt of the church.

The pilgrims had a special joy to venerate the holy relics of St. Cedd, a particle of which was brought to Lastingham by Father Gregory from Nottingham.

At the end of the service, Father Anatoly addressed the clergy and pilgrims with words of greeting and gratitude for their assistance in organizing the pilgrimage.

On behalf of the pilgrims, Father Anatoly thanked Bishop William Godfrey (Church of England), current Rector of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lastingham, for the kindly given opportunity to serve in the church, for his kinds support and a warm, friendly welcome.  Fraternal communication between the pilgrims continued at a meal arranged by joint efforts.

Saint Cedd (+664) - a missionary Bishop, who lived and spread the faith of Christ in England in the 7th century.

He was born in 620 in the kingdom of Northumbria (now the territory in the south of Scotland and the north of England), in a large family.  He was the eldest of four brothers, each of whom became a priest.

In 653, he was consecrated bishop and founded many churches and monasteries, in particular, the Laestingaeu monastery, now called Lastingham, in Yorkshire.  He became the first Rector of this monastery, continuing, at the same time, his episcopal duties.  Immediately after the Council in Whitby (664), he visited Lastingham, where he died of the plague on October 26 (November 8), 664.  

The relics of St. Kedd of Lastingham, Bishop of Wessex, have been preserved and are buried in the church of the village of Lastingham.

 

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