About the Andcross pilgrimage centre

Andcross is a pilgrimage and spiritual education centre from Tallinn. We have worked since 1999 and have taken pilgrims to Orthodox shrines since November 2000. Andija is the only place where our four directions come together: the shop, the pilgrimage centre, holy places and the NIKA association.

Our pilgrimage group with Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem at the Jerusalem Patriarchate — Our pilgrimage group meeting His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine, at the Jerusalem Patriarchate.

METROPOLITAN CORNELIUS

Blessing

The Andcross pilgrimage and spiritual education centre was founded with the blessing of His Eminence Cornelius, Metropolitan of Tallinn and All Estonia. The NIKA association of the disabled also began its work with his blessing.

Our centre was created and shaped with the participation and blessing of the late Metropolitan Cornelius of Tallinn and All Estonia, who reposed in the Lord on 19 April 2018. We cherish the memory of the bishop and continue the ministry he began.

…our Andcross pilgrimage centre organises trips to holy places in such a way that each group takes a priest with it, who serves prayer services, holds talks and explains the meaning of spiritual events. Only when there is a living account and the presence of the pastoral word and pastoral help is it not an “excursion” but a true pilgrimage.

Metropolitan Cornelius, “On my path”, Tallinn, 2009

Letter of honour, December 2007

From Metropolitan Cornelius to the head of the pilgrimage centre Andrei Yakovlev
Letter of honour, December 2010

From Metropolitan Cornelius to the centre's staff member Marina Yakovleva
Medal, 2005

Of St Sabbas the Sanctified and the holy city of Jerusalem, from Patriarch Theophilos III

1924-2018

Metropolitan Cornelius

Metropolitan Cornelius of Tallinn and All Estonia (Vyacheslav Yakobs) was born in Tallinn in 1924. As a boy he served at the altar of the Kazan church, learned to read and sing in church and became a subdeacon to Bishop Paul of Narva.

In 1948 he was ordained a priest and served a small, poor parish in Haapsalu in two languages, then in Vologda. In 1957 he was arrested for his books and conversations with young people and sentenced as a political prisoner. Until 1960 he was held in the Mordovian camps, and he kept his faith there too.

Back in Tallinn he became rector of the church of St John the Baptist and restored it after it was damaged by fire. In 1990 he took monastic vows with the name Cornelius at the Pskov Caves Monastery and was consecrated Bishop of Tallinn; in 2000 he became Metropolitan. In his years churches were built and Sunday schools opened for children and adults.

He had a special love for children: he organised summer camps and often travelled with them himself. He served until his last days and reposed in the Lord on 19 April 2018. Eternal memory to Metropolitan Cornelius.

Metropolitan Cornelius at the Christmas liturgy, 2012 — Christmas liturgy, Tallinn, 2012

SINCE 1999

History

1999
The Andcross centre is founded in Tallinn
2000
The first pilgrimage trip, November
2005
Medal of Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem for the revival of pilgrimage to the Holy Land
2010
The NIKA association is registered

DIRECTIONS

What we work on

Pilgrimage

Trips from Tallinn to the shrines of Georgia and Estonia, in small groups, with accompaniment.

Schedule →

Shop

Icons of the Pskov-Caves and Danilov monasteries, silver consecrated on particles of the relics of St George, items from Samtavro, books and candles.

To the shop →

Holy places and prayer notes

We tell about the places we travel to and take prayer notes there.

Holy places →

NIKA

Targeted help for elderly, ill and less mobile people in Tallinn.

About the association →

THE NIKA ASSOCIATION OF THE DISABLED

How it all works legally

The shop, trips and prayer notes are run by the NIKA association of the disabled, registration number 80307400, Tallinn, Estonia. Orders, trip deposits and prayer notes go to the main account of the association, donations to a separate account. The reference of each payment shows what it is for.

Main account

EE27 7700 7710 0390 6838

Orders, trip deposits, AS LHV Pank, LHVBEE22

Donation account

EE88 7700 7710 1334 8981

Prayer notes and NIKA donations, AS LHV Pank, LHVBEE22

TEAM