« An Orthodox pilgrimage to the spring of St. Kentigern in Caldbeck »
29-01-2026
On Saturday, January 24, 2026, with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, clergy and parishioners of the Northern England diocesan district made a pilgrimage to Caldbeck to the spring of St. Kentigern (Mungo) of Startclyde, Bishop of Glasgow, whose feast day is January 13/26. The annual pilgrimage, held since 2017, was led by Priest Anatoly Vikhrov, Rector of the parishes of St. Xenia of Petersburg in Leeds, of the Meeting of the Lord in Bradford, of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen in York, and of the Nativity of Christ in Kingston upon Hull.
The pilgrimage was attended by Priest Victor Akhryapin, Rector of the Church of the Great Martyr George the Victorious in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, of the diocesan communities of St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne in Durham, and of St. Ninian of Whithorn in Carlisle, as well as by parishioners of these communities. A group of parishioners from Glasgow, for whom the feast day of St. Kentigern is their patronal feast, also joined the pilgrimage.
The Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the ancient 12th-century Church of St. Kentigern, located near a holy spring believed to date back to the 4th century.
The liturgical hymns were performed by choirs from Manchester and Glasgow under the direction of Daria Shumitskaya, choirmaster of the parish of St. Kentigern in Glasgow.
Following the Liturgy, a procession was held to the holy spring, where a water blessing moleben was served. Finally, Father Anatoly sprinkled the congregation with holy water and addressed those present with a sermon and words of gratitude for the pilgrimage they had made together.
The clergy and parishioners continued their fellowship over a shared meal.