Monday 03.09.2007: Matushka Julie
Matushka Julie is from Sydney, Australia and with Father Deacon Christopher was attending our pilgrimage for the first time
The Pilgrims' day began officially at 08:00 with morning prayers in the chapel. Deacon James and Deacon Christopher read the Prayers, Epistle and Gospel. we ate breakfast together in the dining room and then made ready to leave in cars to drive to the city of Saint David's.
Metropolitan Kallistos conducted the service of the Blessing of the Waters at Saint Non's well -- what a wonderful place to be! A coastal view you could not better anywhere, a group of people of like mind and ancient well of fresh, cool water resulted in a very special experience for each pilgrim as we were sprinkled, and drank from the blessed waters. We moved on to the nearby chapel ruin on the place where Saint Non had given birth to the child who would become the patron saint of Wales: Saint David. Our packed lunch was distributed by Cowey and we sat down to enjoy the wonderful scenery while we ate.
Matushka at the well
We would meet at 1430 for prayers at Saint David's shrine in the Cathedral so those appearing to free time, but two large, would explore some say that's and the environments.
Shortly before 1430 we were welcomed by the Dean of the Cathedral and invited to go into the shrine area where the reliquary, itself presented by orthodox hierarchs, some 80 years previously , were brought out and put in the shrine area. The Metropolitan conducted a moving prayer service at the shrine with the reliquary and part of the life of Saint David was read along with other readings which described his life and ministry. At 1530, when we had concluded, there was still more time free time and eventually made our way back to Ffald-y-Brenin for dinner.
Our small group elected to find our way to the beach - a perfect finish to that part of the day. After another tasty meal prepared by a wonderful hosts we proceeded to the meeting room for a talk by Metropolitan Kallistos on the World of Nature in Welsh spirituality which was largely given to us through poetry readings followed by his commentary and our questions which opened up a wonderful vista on what was actually understood by the meaning of "nature" and how that related to Orthodoxy both in the East and what its understanding was in Wales.
The day finished with evening prayers in the Chapel and a sense of anticipation for the next day in our Pilgrimage.
Glory to God!
Matushka Julie Henderson
Sydney, Australia
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