« Pilgrimage to the Church of St. Boniface of Fulda in Bonchurch, Isle of Wight »

On August 17, 2024, with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, a pilgrimage of clergy and parishioners of the Sourozh Diocese took place to the ancient Church of the Holy Martyr St. Boniface of Fulda, baptized Winfried (672-675 - 754), Archbishop of Mainz, Dokkum, Crediton, Apostle of Germany, located in Bonchurch, on the Isle of Wight.

The Church of St. Boniface, which has survived to this day in its present form, dates back to 1070. It was rebuilt by monks from Normandy from an earlier Saxon church. A fresco from the 7th century has been preserved on the northern wall of the church. Born in Crediton in the Kingdom of Wessex, now the county of Devon, between 672 and 675, Saint Boniface was a resident of the great monastery of Nursling, near Southampton, and became the enlightener of the German lands and the Archbishop of Mainz. His many years of missionary work in the field of preaching the Gospel of Christ were crowned with a martyr's death on Trinity Day in 754.

The Divine Liturgy under the arches of the ancient church was celebrated by Dean of the diocesan district of South-West England, Archpriest Joseph Skinner, with the assistance of Deacon Victor Nikiforov.

After the Liturgy, a common meal was held, after which the pilgrims were able to rest on the seashore.

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