« Annual pilgrimage to Lastingham, the resting place of St. Cedd of Lastingham, Bishop of Essex »

On Saturday, November 5, 2022, with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, clergy and parishioners of the Diocese of Sourozh made an annual pilgrimage to Lastingham, the resting place of the Holy Hierarch St. Cedd, Apostle of Essex (+26 October/8 November 664).

In the small English village of Lastingham, which is located in North Yorkshire, 40 minutes away from York, there is a majestic church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In its very center, there is a staircase leading to the crypt, where a small church is built, located under the floor of the main building. There, to the right of the altar, according to legend, St. Cedd was buried, when he died in 664 during a plague epidemic.

The pilgrimage group was headed by Priest Anatoly Vikhrov, Rector of the parishes of St.Ksenia of St. Petersburg in Leeds, of the Meeting of the Lord in Bradford, of the Holy Equal to the Apostles Constantine and Helena in York, and of the Nativity of Christ in Kingston-upon-Hull.

Upon arrival to Lastingham, the pilgrims took part in the Divine Liturgy, led by Fr Anatoly Vikhrov, assisted by Archpriest Gregory Butler, Rector of the Church of St. Aidan and St. Chad in Nottingham, Priest Victor Akhryapin, Rector of the diocesan community of St. Ninian of Whithorn, cleric of the Church of the Great Martyr George the Victorious in Newcastle, Deacon Paul Wood, cleric of the Church of St. Aidan and St.Chad in Nottingham, and Deacon Jonathan Cowley, clergyman of the parish of St. Silouan of Athos and All British and Irish Saints in Chesterfield (Archdiocese of Western European parishes of the Russian tradition of the Russian Orthodox Church).

Liturgical chants were performed by a combined choir of singers from Manchester, Bradford and Newcastle.

After the Liturgy, a procession and moleben took place at the tomb of the saint, located in the crypt of the church.

At the end of the service, Father Anatoly addressed those present in the church with words of greeting and gratitude for their help in organizing the pilgrimage.

On behalf of the pilgrims, Father Anatoly also thanked the Revd Gareth Atha, Dean of the North Rydale district of the Church of England, Rector of the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lastingham, for kindly providing the opportunity to celebrate the Liturgy, and for his warm and friendly welcome.

At the end of the pilgrimage, the participants shared a common meal.

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