Sunday
Jun042023

« Students of the parochial school of the Dormition Cathedral in London made a pilgrimage to the Bishops' Metochion of the Venerable Martyr Elizabeth at Roksfarm »

Date04-06-2023
On June 2, 2023, a group of students, parents and teachers of the children's parochial school of the Dormition Cathedral in London made a pilgrimage to the Bishops' Metochion of the Venerable Martyr Elizabeth in Roks Farm, located near the small settlement of Bodiam, in East Sussex.
Upon arrival, the pilgrims were met by the elder sister of the Metochion, nun Martha (Persianinova). Matushka conducted a sightseeing tour of the territory of the monastery site and spoke about its history. In the house church, pilgrims were able to venerate the particles of the holy relics of the Venerable Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth and nun Varvara (Yakovleva) (+1918). The children of the parishioners of the Metochion, Maria and Nikolai, spoke about the holy Venerable Martyrs, briefly outlining the main moments of their life and spiritual feat.
After the conversation, the pilgrims were offered refreshments. At the end of the tea party, Mother Martha drew attention to the icon of St. Helena Equal-to-the-Apostles, decorated with flowers, recalling the upcoming feast, on the next day, and invited everyone to visit the nearby (near the city of Hastings) spring of St. Helena Equal-to-the-Apostles, historical references to which date back to the 5th and 7th centuries AD.
Arriving at the place, mother Martha told about the history of the spring and the ancient temple, originally founded by King Offa of Mercia in the 8th century, which was later rebuilt under the Normans in the second half of the 11th century. There is historical evidence of cases of healing from the holy spring, which continue to this day. The pilgrims sang the troparion and kontakion to Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helena and read a prayer to them.
Before returning to London, a joint meal was arranged in the open air. 
The pilgrims expressed their gratitude to Mother Marfa for the warm and cordial welcome.