PICTURES: St Gerardine lantern parade honours patron saint of Lossiemouth
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AROUND 400 children, parents, teachers and members of the community celebrated the patron saint of Lossiemouth in traditional fashion.
A lantern parade honoured the memory of St Gerardine, a hermit who lived in the area in the 10th century, who was said to protect fishing boats from running aground on stormy nights as he walked along the cliff tops with a flaming torch.
He was said to live in a cave close to where Station Park is now and after his death the cave went on to become a popular place of pilgrimage amongst the faithful for hundreds of years.
However this practice largely died out following the Reformation, after which the veneration of saints was no longer tolerated by the authorities.
Ultimately, the cave, was quarried out during the 19th century.
However their patron saint was not forgotten by the people of Lossiemouth.
The foundation stone of St Gerardine’s High Church of Scotland was laid in 1899 and the building was completed two years later.
Also bearing his name is the primary school on St Gerardine's Road.
Iona Kielhorn, one of the lantern walk's organisers, said: "We have never had as many as we have had tonight. The schools have worked very well with us on telling the story about the patron saint of Lossiemouth and making lanterns in the school. It's a wonderful thing."
Rev Geoff McKee, minister of St Gerardine for the last eight years, talked to the children about St Gerardine before the parade.
Rev McKee said: "It's wonderful because it brings the community together and involves primary schools making up the lanterns in the weeks prior to it.
"It is good to link in with the heritage society in Lossiemouth as well. St Gerardine really brings a focus to the town which is positive and good.
"The community has worked really hard through the pandemic and pulled together very strongly. An event like this reminds people they need to keep pulling together and the light shining in the darkness is a powerful message.
"We don't know a lot of concrete facts about St Gerardine but the legends are strong. Warning the ships with the light is probably the most notable of them all.
"The name has survived and he is of significance."
