« A pilgrimage to the St Seiriol’s Well in Wales »

On July 29, 2023, with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, a pilgrimage to the holy spring of St. Seiriol on the Isle of Anglesey (Ynys Môn in Welsh) off the northwest coast of Wales, the county of Isle of Anglesey.

The first Christian hermits appeared on Anglesey in the 5th century.  Orthodox monasticism flourished on the island for several centuries, until the devastating Viking raids in the 9th century - during this time many saints labored here.  This is evidenced by the preserved ancient churches, the ruins of monasteries and sketes, crosses, holy springs and hermit cells.

At Penmont Abbey, founded by St.  Seyriol in the VI century and located in the southeastern part of the island Anglesey, a holy spring has been preserved to our time, at which baptisms were performed for centuries, and water was used for the needs of the monastery. There are also contemporary accounts of miraculous healings in our day.

Upon arrival at the place of pilgrimage, in the monastery church of Penmon Priory, built in 1123 on the site of a wooden church founded in the 6th century, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the cleric of the Sourozh diocese, Priest Anatoly Vikhrov. Pilgrims from Manchester, Kingston-upon-Hull and other places in Northern England prayed and communed the Holy Mysteries of Christ at the divine service. According to historical evidence, the holy relics of St. Seiriol were hidden in the crypt under the altar of the church and were lost during the Reformation.

After the Liturgy, the pilgrims went in procession to the spring, where a water-blessing moleben was served.

At the end, a common meal was arranged on the picturesque seashore overlooking Conwy Bay.

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