A Swedish tradition comes to York Minster for the first time next week with a service to mark the feast of Saint Lucy – Sankta Lucia – forming part of the cathedral’s Advent programme.
The atmospheric service sees York Minster being lit by candles, with a candlelit procession led by a young girl wearing a crown of candles to represent St Lucy, a young Sicilian girl who died a martyr's death in the early fourth century.
The service is already an established feature in the December calendar of several other notable churches across the UK, including St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Cathedral and the Swedish Church in London.
The service begins with the Lucia candlelit procession, in which those processing sing traditional Swedish carols and songs. The singers dress in white gowns, carrying candles bringing light in the darkness of winter.
The Reverend Canon Peter Moger, Precentor of York Minster, said: “The Sankta Lucia service is, in many ways, the Swedish equivalent of our Advent Procession, and shares many similarities for those attending.
The service on Thursday starts at 7.30pm. Admission is free.
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