Students of the London parish school made a pilgrimage to York »

On October 30, 2026, with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, students, parents, and teachers of the Holy Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth Children's Parish School of the Dormition Cathedral in London made a pilgrimage to York.The group was led by Priest Alexander Kapustin, a cleric at the London cathedral.

At York's Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle, the pilgrims were met by representatives of the cathedral. They introduced the guests to the cathedral's history, its architectural features, unique stained glass windows, and relics.

Father Alexander then served a moleben to the holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Emperor Constantine and Empress Helena in one of the cathedral's chapels. At the end of the service, the priest addressed those present with a pastoral sermon and recounted the life of Emperor Constantine, whose monument stands in the square in front of the cathedral. Father Alexander noted the saint's determination to follow the Christian path in a pagan world, his role in ending persecution and establishing the faith in the Roman Empire. Particular attention was paid to the labours of Queen Helena, whose efforts led to the discovery of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord in Jerusalem in 326. 2026 marks the 1700th anniversary of this great event.

In the run-up to Halloween, widely celebrated in the West, Father Alexander called on believers to be mindful of modern cultural trends. He emphasised the need to remain faithful to Christ and not participate in celebrations whose content contradicts the Christian worldview.

The trip was not only an opportunity for children, parents, and teachers to learn about the history of one of the oldest Christian centres and the former capital of England, but also an important event in the parish life of London Cathedral, uniting participants in shared prayer and spiritual fellowship.

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