We are pleased to announce the upcoming annual Orthodox pilgrimage to St. Winefride‘s Well in Holywell, Wales organised by our sister church: St Barbara, Chester. This solemn event will take place on Saturday, October 5th, 2024.
Event Details
- Date: Saturday, October 5th, 2024
- Location: St. Winefride’s Well, Holywell, Wales
About the Pilgrimage
The pilgrimage to St. Winefride’s Well is a long-established event in our Church Calendar. This holy site holds a unique place in British history as the sole surviving ancient place of pilgrimage where the tradition has continued unbroken since before the Reformation.
Schedule of Events
- 10 AM: Matins and Divine Liturgy
- Procession from the well chapel to the well
- Blessing of the waters
- Opportunity for pilgrims to bathe in the healing waters
- Lunch break
- Afternoon: Vespers in the chapel
There is also a Pilgrimage Walk from Chester to Holywell starting at 3.30am from St. Barbara Orthodox Church in Chester Contact Presbytera Vera for more information 07533805032 vslavtchevap@gmail.com
Historical Significance
Saint Winefride, born between 610 and 620, was the daughter of noble Welsh parents Tyfid and Gwenlo. As a teenager, she dedicated her life to God, choosing a path of chastity and prayer. According to tradition, she was martyred on the feast of Saint Alban when a young prince named Caradog, enraged by her rejection, beheaded her. Miraculously, where her head fell, a spring of water gushed forth, creating the Holy Well that has been a place of pilgrimage ever since.
Saint Beuno, Winefride’s uncle and spiritual father, is said to have restored her to life, leaving only a thin white scar around her neck. After this event, Winefride lived as a nun, eventually becoming an abbess at Gwytherin in Denbighshire.
The well’s reputation for miraculous healing grew throughout the Middle Ages. Numerous monarchs, including Richard I, Henry V, and Henry VII, visited or supported the shrine. The late 15th-century chapel overlooking the well, built during the reign of Henry VII, still stands today, featuring beautiful Perpendicular architecture.
Despite Henry VIII’s order to destroy the shrine during the Reformation, much of it survived. Pilgrimage to St. Winefride’s Well has continued unbroken for over 1,300 years, making it the oldest site of continuous pilgrimage in Britain.
Join Us
We warmly invite all members of our church to join us for this pilgrimage.
For more information or to arrange transport, please contact Fr Stephen.