22-08-2025

Pilgrimage to the Monastery of St. John the Baptist in Maldon (England).

From August 16 to 22, a group of parishioners from the parish of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Matthew in Leuven made a pilgrimage to the world-famous Monastery of St. John the Baptist, located in Maldon in Essex (England).

The monastery was founded by the elder Sophrony (Sakharov), who revealed to the world the life and spiritual heritage of his teacher and mentor, St. Silouan the Athonite.

Since 2010, our parish has been organizing annual week-long trips to this holy monastery. This year, 13 people made the pilgrimage, 6 of whom visited the monastery for the first time.

During the week, the pilgrims had a wonderful opportunity to break away from the bustle and worries of the world, and in the monastic atmosphere of brotherly love to immerse themselves in the world of prayer, fasting, labor obedience and silence.

Inspired, filled with grace and joy, the pilgrims, with God's help, returned home - in anticipation of the next trip, which, by the grace of God, will take place in February of next year.