On 19 August last (2025) at Talmont-sur-Gironde, a first pilgrimage took place, made up of young baptized persons and catechumens from the Paris region. The choir was formed by these young French speakers, who sang with great piety the Vigil on Monday evening and the Divine Liturgy on the very day of the Transfiguration. The Choir Director, Father Alexandre Kedroff, directed this young group of singers, whose talent is already well established, with skill and fervour.
Let us recall that Father Alexandre, Cantor and Choir Director, together with our Rector, Father Matthieu (Leszczynski), both of St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Paris, devote themselves with boundless dedication to catechesis and singing lessons for these fine young people, most of whom were discovering for the first time the beauty of the Church of Saint Radegonde in Talmont, as well as the magnificent nature and the many attractions of the Royan region.
After the liturgy, all the participants were invited to gather for a fraternal agape in the form of a rustic buffet at the property of our Subdeacon Richard and his matushka, Marousia. Mother Nature granted us ideal weather to share these moments of intense festivity in joy and gladness.
As you can imagine, the organization of such a pilgrimage required a great deal of planning, work and goodwill. May everyone here receive his or her due share of thanks and congratulations for his or her invaluable contribution to the coordination, the preparation and the excellent execution of this exceptional event, which has just marked a milestone in the history of our community.
Marousia Koïou-Karaïvan,