In Veneration of the Holy Relics of Saint Nicholas and Saint Adelbert

 

 

 

On a blessed Saturday, a group of faithful from our parish embarked on a pilgrimage to the Abbey of Egmond, a place of profound historical and spiritual significance in the Netherlands. 

After approximately an hour and a half, we arrived at the abbey around 11:00 and were warmly welcomed by the monastic community. The monks graciously offered us a guided tour through the inner and outer grounds of the abbey, sharing with us the rich history of this ancient site of prayer and mission.

 

The heart of our pilgrimage was the veneration of the holy relics of Saint Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, and Saint Adelbert, a British missionary of the 8th century. Saint Adelbert accompanied Saint Willibrord in his mission to Frisia around the year 690 AD and is venerated as one of the enlighteners of the Netherlands. To stand before their relics in prayer and reverence was a moment of deep spiritual grace for all of us.

 

In the afternoon, we visited the Adelbertus Field, located just five minutes from the abbey. This sacred place, where the relics of Saint Adelbert were originally discovered, also contains a spring whose waters are considered holy. Here, the pilgrims had free time to explore the surrounding nature, enjoy a picnic in the open air (blessed with good weather), or gather for group games or board games in a spirit of fellowship and joy.

 

At 17:30 we gathered once more for the celebration of Vespers. The service took place in the small Orthodox chapel nearby, which is used by the local Orthodox parish dedicated to the Annunciation of the Mother of God and Saint Adelbert in Alkmaar.

 

We began our return journey at 19:00, hearts full and spirits uplifted, grateful for the opportunity to walk together as a community in prayer, reverence, and joyful fellowship.

This pilgrimage was not only a visit to sacred sites, but a shared spiritual journey—a reminder of the living presence of the saints among us, and of the unity we experience as members of the Body of Christ.

 

Great thanks to the abbot of the Abbey, to fr. Johannes, a very polite and helpful monk of the Abbey, who has spent the whole day with us, guiding us to our tour and answering all our questions with patience and love, and to fr. Andriy, the parish priest of the Orthodox Chapel, who allowed us to do the vespers in his beautiful Church.