Tuesday
Sep062022

« An annual pilgrimage to the spring of the Holy Martyr Winifred in Holywell »

Date06-09-2022
On September 4, 2022, with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, the annual pilgrimage of the clergy and parishioners of the churches of the Diocesan District of Northern England and Wales to the spring of the Holy Martyr Winifred of Trefynnon (+630) took place.
After the Divine Liturgy at the Intercession Church in Manchester, celebrated by Priest Anatoly Vikhrov, more than 30 pilgrims headed for North Wales.  Upon arrival in Holywell, the pilgrims were met by the Rector of the Church of All Saints of Wales in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Hegumen Deiniol (Davies).  At the spring of St. Winifred, a water-blessed moleben was served, after which all those present were able to venerate a particle of the holy relics of St. Winifred, which is kept in the Catholic church of the same name, located near the holy spring.
After diving in the vast bath of the holy spring, the pilgrims shared a meal in a picturesque place near the ruins of the ancient monastery of Basingwerk, founded in the 12th century and which is one of the shrines of the North Wales Pilgrim's Way.

Holy Martyr Winifred of Gwytherin, Treffinon, Wales (Winifred, Winefride, Gwenfrewi; + 630/ca. 660)

Memory kept on November 3.

A virgin of noble birth who lived in north Wales in the seventh century.  The niece and spiritual daughter of Saint Beuno, after his death she entered the monastery of Gwitherin, where she lived under the spiritual guidance of Saint Eleril.  The son of a neighboring chief named Caradog, seized with carnal passion, pursued her and cut off her head with a sword. The place where her head fell became known as Trefynnon (Wall.) or Holywell (English), which means "holy spring" - because of the appearance of a healing spring, the water from which helps all who take it with faith.  To this day, Holywell remains a place of pilgrimage in England.
According to the life of the Saint, Winifred’s uncle, Saint Beuno, resurrected her by prayer, after which she returned to the monastery in Gwytherin, where she eventually became abbess.