Sixty years ago, the Ossorguine family began the tradition of celebrating the feast of the Transfiguration at the Church of Saint Radegund in Talmont-sur-Gironde. Now, for the second consecutive year, it is the parish of Saint Stephen in Vaux-sur-Mer that organizes this event.
On 19 August, a delegation made up of some thirty young pilgrims, 4 priests and two deacons made the journey, coming mainly from Paris, but also from Poitiers, Orléans and other countries.
The Vigil and the Liturgy were presided over by Father Matthieu Leszczynski, together with the concelebrants Father Nicolas Petit (Poitiers) and Father Joseph Pavlinciuc (Paris). Archpriest Pierre Argouet (Orléans) also honoured the assembly with his presence. Protodeacon Jean Drobot of St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, assisted by Deacon Serge Malko (Nantes), served in the diaconal role at the service, supported by Subdeacons Dimitri Gladiy, Vadim Stol and Richard Di Paola, and by two altar servers. The traditional blessing of the fruits was preceded by a procession around the church, during which the intercession of Saint Radegund, queen of the Franks in the 6th century, was sought.
The choir of the crypt of the Holy Trinity, directed by Protodeacon Alexandre Kedroff, choir director of St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, adorned these celebrations with Slavonic and French chant.
After the Liturgy, the Rector of the Parish of Saint Stephen in Vaux-sur-Mer, Father Matthieu Leszczynski, presented, on behalf of His Eminence Metropolitan John of Dubna, the Order of St Alexander Nevsky to Subdeacon Richard Di Paola, and the Medal of Mother Maria of Paris (Skobtsov) to his wife, Maroussia. These are the highest distinctions awarded by the Archdiocese, “in thanks for devotion, commitment to service and constant presence in the said parish, for fidelity and exceptional services rendered to the Archdiocese”, to the recipients, the founding couple of the parish of Saint Stephen.
Following the presentation of the medals, Fathers Matthieu and Joseph thanked certain members of the local Catholic clergy, namely Coadjutor Bishop Pierre-Antoine Bozo, Father Sermonfils Auguste and Father Pascal-Grégoire Delage, for their material support and hospitality. They also warmly thanked the pilgrims who had come from afar, stressing the joy they felt in this tradition and their love for this local heritage, and giving thanks to God for everything.
After the traditional blessing of the fruits, an agape meal was shared in the parish hall of the church of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption in Royan.
On the way home, the pilgrims stopped several times to venerate the relics of local saints in the town of Saintes and its surroundings, marking this pilgrimage not only with cultural enrichment, through discovering the lives of these little-known saints, but also with a spirit of fraternal recollection.
We hope to continue this tradition next year, and for many more years, God willing.
Fr Matthieu