Bishop Maximos of Melitene presided over the Divine Liturgy and the annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of St. Winefride in Holywell, North Wales, on Saturday, October 3.
Concelebrating were Archimandrite Philip Hall of the Patriarchate of Antioch, Protopresbyter Pancratios Sanders, Fathers John Petkov and Panteleimon Maxfield, as well as priests representing the Patriarchates of Georgia and Romania.
The Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the historic shrine church built above St. Winefride’s well. The Gothic structure dates to the late 15th century and is traditionally associated with Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of King Henry VII of England. The shrine is regarded as one of Britain’s oldest continuously visited pilgrimage sites.
St. Winefride lived in North Wales in the seventh century and, according to tradition, was beheaded after rejecting the advances of Caradoc, the son of a local ruler. A spring is said to have appeared at the place where her head fell, while her uncle, St. Beuno, restored her to life through prayer. Winefride later became a nun and eventually abbess at Gwytherin.
In his homily, Bishop Maximos reflected on the saint’s unwavering dedication to Christ, which she maintained even when confronted with death.
“Faith that takes root in the human heart enables a person to stand firm in every trial,” he said, encouraging the faithful to cultivate the same devotion to God.
The Bishop also emphasized the Christian’s trust in Christ, who, he said, “knows how to transform even our pain into a source of life and grace.”
Connecting St. Winefride’s martyrdom with the spring that emerged at the site, Bishop Maximos added: “When we too are wounded in our lives, may the very place where we bleed become an opportunity for spiritual rebirth.”
“Every difficulty and every wound in this life should become the beginning of something new, giving us strength and making us spiritually stronger,” he said.
Following the Divine Liturgy, clergy and faithful processed to the lower part of the shrine, where St. Winefride’s holy well is located. Bishop Maximos then celebrated the Blessing of the Waters, with pilgrims approaching to receive the blessing.
