TO THE ATTENTION OF PILGRIMS TO GREECE

In response to inquiries coming to the Department for External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate, the department clarifies that, in keeping with the Holy Synod Statement of October 17, 2019 (Minutes No. 125), no blessing is given upon the Russian Orthodox Church’s pilgrims’ visits to the following dioceses of the Orthodox Church of Greece, whose ruling bishops have entered in church communion with the Ukrainian schismatics:

Metropolis of Athens headed by Archbishop Ieronimus II of Athens and All Greece

Diocese of Langada; ruling bishop – Metropolitan Ioannis of Langada;

Diocese of Veria; ruling bishop – Metropolitan Panteleimon of Veria, Naoussa and Campania;

Diocese of Arta; ruling bishop – Metropolitan Kallinikos of Arta;

Diocese of Trikki (city of Trikala) ruling bishop – Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Trikki and Stagon;

Diocese of Demetrias (city of Volos) – Metropolitan Ignatios of Demetrias.

PILGRIMAGE TO THE TOMB OF ST CEDD OF LASTINGHAM 9TH NOVEMBER 2019

With the blessing of His Eminence Bishop Mathew of Sourozh,

one day pilgrimage to is organised to the tomb of Saint Cedd of Lastingham, Bishop of Essex. The pilgrimage will take place on 9th November 2019, which is the date close to St Cedd’s feast, (8th November).

The program of the pilgrimage is as follows

• 10.00— Divine Liturgy. 
• Cross Procession to the tomb. 
•  Prayer service.
• 13.00— Festive meal.

St Cedd was born of an Angle family settled in Northumbria.  His brothers Caedda, Cynibill and Caelin also devoted themselves to serving God and became priests. With his younger brother Caedda, he was brought up at Lindisfarne Priory under Saint Aidan. 

In 653 he was consecrated bishop and founded many churches and monasteries, one of which is the monastery of Laestingaeu, now Lastingham in Yorkshire. Of this house he became the first abbot, notwithstanding his episcopal responsibilities. Immediately after the Synod of Whitby he paid a visit to Laestingaeu where he died of plague on 26th October 664. Later St Cedd’s body was interred under the altar of a little stone church at Lastingham.

Saint Cedd, pray to God for us.

PILGRIMAGE TO HOLY LAND 28/10/2019-4/11/2019

With the blessing of His Eminence Bishop Mathew of Sourozh, a pilgrimage to the Holy Land will be organised from 28-th October to 4-th November 2019.

Departure from Luton Airport will be on Monday 28 October at 7:15, arriving at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel-Aviv at 14:15.  The flight is EasyJet EZY2083.

EasyJet return flight EasyJet, EZY2086 from Ben Gurion Airport (Tel Aviv) will be on Monday 4, November at 16.55, arriving at Luton Airport at 23:05.

Estimated cost of the trip approximately £650 plus $60 cash for tips and possible add-on payments in museums.

Air tickets are bought individually, at the moment return flights are £280.

Accommodation in the hotel in Bethlehem and Jerusalem;

To join the pilgrimage group, please contact Sergey Tochlin +447772222117, by e-mail:pilgrimages@sourozh.org  or whatsup on the above number.

HOLYLAND PILGRIMAGE PROGROM ЗЕМЛЕ
28 October - 4 November 2019.

28 October, Monday.

14:15 Arrival to Tel Aviv airport, flight EasyJet EZY208

Jerusalem: Visiting Trinity Cathedral of the Russia Ecclesiastical Mission of Jerusalem.
Church of the Resurrection (Church of the Holy Sepulchre).
Departure for Bethlehem. Stay in Hotel in Russia Ecclesiastical Mission (REM) in Bethlehem.

18:00 Dinner at REM hotel.

29 October, Tuesday

07:30 Breakfast.

08:00 Coach Departure .
Hebron: Premises of REM in Hebron: Oak of Mamre.
Souvenir  shop .
Beit-Sahur: Monastery of the Shepherds Field.
Judaean Desert: Monastery of St. Theodosius;  Holy Lavra of St. Savas.
Walk to Church of the Nativity. Veneration of Place of Our Saviours Nativity Place.
Cave of Relics of Holy Innocents. Milk grotto.

18:00 Dinner at REM hotel.

30 October, Wednesday

06:00 Departure with Packet Breakfast.

08:00 Galilee: Mount Tabor;
Nazareth – Orthodox Church above the Well of Mother of God;
Hanna of Galilee – Orthodox Church at the site St Apostle Simon the Zealot (Canonite).
RME site of Equal to the Apostles  St. Mary Magdalene in Magdal.
Holy Springs on the RME site.
Lunch “with St Peter’s carp”.
Church of Twelve Holy Apostles in Capernaum.

18:00 Dinner at REM hotel in Bethlehem.

31 October, Thursday

07:30 Breakfast.

08:00 Coach Departure .
Bethany: Tomb of  Lazarus of the Four Days.
Iherihon: Mount of Forty Days. RME site in Iherihon.
Park and Russian Museum. Sycamore Tree of Zacchaeus.
River Jordan: Our Saviours Baptism Sit; Emergence into Holy Waters of Jordan.
Monastery of St Gerasim of Jordan.

18:00 Dinner at REM hotel in Bethlehem.

1 November, Friday

07:30 Breakfast.

08:00 Coach Departure.
Mount Helion: Panoramic view of Jerusalem. Place of Ascension.
Russian Saviours Ascension Monastery (ROCOR).
Little Galilee – Church of Representation of Risen Christ to the Holy Apostles.
Place of  Archangel Gabriel Visitation of Mother of God.
Patriarchal Residence.  Tomb of Patriarch Diodor.
Gethsemane: Garden of Gethsemane.
Church of Dormition in Gethsemane –  Top of Mother of God.
Russian women’s monastery of Equal to the Apostles St Mary Magdalene in Gethsemane (ROCOR).
Relics of St Elizabeth and Barbara.

18:00 Overnight stay in hotel National in Jerusalem.

2 November, Saturday

07:30 Breakfast.

Start of pilgriame in Central Jerusalem on foot, without bus.
Jerusalem:
Place of nativity of Mother of God.  The Crib in North Bethesda.
Via De La Rosa in Old Jerusalem: Pretoria (Place of temporary imprisonment of Jesus Christ).
The Doorstep of the Judgement Gates;  
Alexander’s Courtyard.
Cathedral of Acsention ( Holy Sepulcture).
Sion (optional): The Hall of Last Supper ;

Catholic Church Church of Dormition of Mother of God (Dormitsion)

17:00  All-night Vigil in Holy Trinity Cathedral in Jerusalem.

20:00  Dinner at the hotel.
23:00 Night Liturgy in cathedral of  Holy Sepulcture.

3 November, Sunday

03:00 Coming back to Hotel to rest.

09:30 Breakfast.

10:00 Coach Departure.

Lydda: Cathedral and Tomb of St George The Dragon Slayer.
Jaffa: RME site of St Tavifa;
Cathedral of St Peter, the Apostle and St Tavifa; Tomb of St Tavifa.

Jaffa:  The place with Panoramic view of Mediterranean Sea..

18:00 Dinner at the hotel.

4 November, Monday. Of the Holy Icon of Mother of God of Kazan.

Departure for  the Fiestival Liturgy in the Monastery of the Holy Mount, RME site.
(без завтрака – сухой паёк).

15:00  Departure to the airport.

19:35  Flight EasyJet EZY2086.

Pilgrimage to Holy Hills of Russian South-West. Metropolis of Voronezh

Dear prospective pilgrims. We are planning most interesting Pilgrimages to the Holy Hills of South West of Russia. Have a look at the program and if you are interested, please register your ineterst with sending names to the organisers, suggesting the dates for this pilgrimage. As soon as there are enough participants we will go head with this pilgrimage.

Program of the pilgrimage to Russia

1st day

18.45 Arrival to Voronezh International Airport.

19.15 Departure to mens Monastery of Nativity of Mother of God in town of Zadonsk.

20.15.00 Arrival to the above Monastery.

20.30 Trapeza (communal monastery meal).

21.40 Overnight stay in the Monastery hotel.

2nd day 

07.30 Divine Liturgy in the Zadonsk Monastery .

10.30 Trapeza (communal monsatery meal).

11.30 Departure for Kursk Desert Skit Monastery.

15.30 Arrival.

15.30 Trapeza (communal monastery meal).

18.00 Evening Church Service.

20.00 Evening meal.

21.00 Overnight stay in the Monastery hotel.

3rd day

07.00 Divine Liturgy in the Kursk Monastery.

10.30 Lunch.

11.00 Departure for City of Belgorod.

13.00 Arrival to Belgoorod's Transfiguration Cathedral.

13.00 Moleben and Akafist to Iosaf of Belgorod, the Wonderworker.

15.00 Trapeza.

17.00 Evening service in Belgoorod's Transfiguration Cathedral.

19.00 Evening meal.

20.00 Overnight stay in the Monastery hotel.

4th day

08.00 Divine liturgy in the Minastery.

10.00 Lunch.

11.00 Departure to town of Rossosh.

15.00 Arrival.

16.00 Service in the St Ilija Cathedral in Rossosh.

18.00 Trapeza.

20.00 Departure for the Womens monastery in Kostamarovo.

21.30 Arrival.

22.00 Overnight stay in the Monastery hotel.

5th day

07.30 Divine Liturgy in the Kostomarovos Monastery of the Saviour.

10.30 Lunch.

11.30 Excursion around the Monastery.

15.30 Mid day meal.

17.00 Evening Service.

19.30 Evening meal.

21.30 Overnight stay in the Monastery hotel.

6th day

07.30 Lithurgy in Kostomarovo's Monastery.

10.30 Lunch.

11.30 Departure for Belogorsky Resurrection Monastery mens monastery.

12.00 Arrival.

13.30 Excursion around the caves of the monastery.

15.00 Evening meal.

18.00 Evening Service.

20.00 Departure back to Kosomarovs Monastery.

21.30 Overnight stay in the Monastery hotel.

7th day

07.30 Divine liturgy in Kostomarovs monastery.

10.30 Lunch.

11.30 Departure for the Dormition mens monastery in Divnogorie (Holly Hills).

13.30 Arrival.

14.00 Excursion around the monastery.

15.30 Trapeza.

17.00 Evening Service.

20.30 Evening meal.

21.30 Overnight stay in the Monastery hotel.

8th day

06.00 Departure for city of Voronezh.

08.30 Arrival.

09.00 Divine Service in Announciation Cathedral of Voronezh.

11.00 Lunch.

12.30 Visit to the Fleet Admiral Church dedicated to Dormition.

14.00 Transfer to Aleksis-Akatov Monastery.

14.30 Lunch.

16.00 Evening service in Aleksis-Akatov Monastery.

18.00 Visit to the Church of St Mitrofan and his holy spring, including possibility to immerse in the Holy waters.

20.00 Overnight stay in the Monastery hotel.

9th day

07.00 Divine Liturgy in Annunciation Cathedral of Voronezh.

09.00 Trapeza.

10.00 Departure to Moscow (Sheremetievo).

17.00 Arrival to Moscow.

19.25 Departure to UK

Pilgrimage costs:

£500 + airfare.

Not included:

Airfare, insurance, tips to guide and driver, donations to monasteries.

PILGRIMAGE TO SAINTS OF HOLY ISLAND OF KERKERA (CORFU)

With the blessing of His Eminence Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, a pilgrimage to the Holy Island of Kerkera (Corfu) will be organised in 2019/2020. The pilgrims would be able to participate in festivities, Liturgy and venerate relics of St Spiridon, visit many saints and monasteries of the Holy Island.

The program of the pilgrimage by the day is as follows:

1st day. Arrival to Corfu, 9:00. 

Hotel, Rest, dinner.

2nd day . Packed meal (to be eaten after Liturgy). Convent of Mother of God of Kassopitra, meeting with Archimandritus Polikarp, spiritual Son of St Paisius. Veneration of relics of St Arsenius of Kappadokias. Convent of Holy Martyr St Euphemia. Church of Mother of God of Vlaherne. Coming back to hotel. Dinner.

3rd day. Breakfast. St Spiridon Cathedral, veneration of relics of St Spiridon. Visiting places associated with Andmiral Theodor Ushakov, venerated as Saint, the saviour of Corfu. Prayer service near monument to St Theodore Ushakov.  Visit to Cathedral of St Theodora to venerate her relics (she is major Saint who saved Orthodoxy from Iconoclasm). Veneration of relics of St Yanson and St Sosipatra - Apostles of the Seventy in the oldest church in Corfu (XII century).

Coming back to hotel. Dinner.

4th day. Breakfast. Trip to the Monastery of Paleokostritsa, visiting Life Giving Spring. Monastery of St Paraskeva of Rome, martyr of the II century. Veneration of relics of St Paraskeva and her Wonder-working Icon. Visit to the mens Monastery of Agios Kiriaki, womens monastery of Pantokrator, womens monastery of St Dimitrius, womens skit of Pantokrator Kamarela.

Coming back to hotel. Dinner.

5th day.. Packed meal (to be eaten after Liturgy). Lithurgy on the The Feast day in St Spiridon Cathedral.  Free time.

6th day. Breakfast in hotel. Transfer to the airport (for the flight at 14:50 to London).

Notes:

The cost ofthe pilgrimage @£600, but final price may be lower, depending on the number of participants.

The hotel would be 5 stars in the centre of Town, 2-3 people in the room, Breakfast and Dinner. 

Minibus, Orthodox Guide will accompany our group throughout. Priest from our Diocese will lead the pilgrimage. What is not included is plus air tickets.