A group of aspiring Eastern European clergymen are touring Moray on a quest to broaden their knowledge of Scottish culture.
Eight student priests from Poland arrived in Forres on Tuesday, and yesterday they took mass at the town’s St Margaret’s Church for the first time.
The third-year seminarians, from the Pallottine Order, are hoping to brush up on their English skills prior to entering a life in the priesthood.
From their base in the town, the group will visit landmarks across Moray and beyond.
Yesterday the trainee priests received an education in the area’s youth at Forres Academy, and later learned about the town’s history at the Tolbooth heritage site.
Today they will travel north to Loch Ness and they will round off their trip to Scotland by visiting the Braemar Gathering on Saturday and observing mass at Pluscarden Abbey on Sunday.
Lucyna Elliot, a former history teacher at Forres Academy who recently spent a month in Poland teaching the aspiring priests English, arranged the trip.
She said: “I’ve been going to Poland to run English classes for the last few years, and my most recent students were very keen to learn more about Scotland.
“They managed to raise funds to come and stay for a week in Forres, and they seem to be getting a great deal out of it.
“By just chatting with local people the students learn a lot, and they are really enjoying themselves.”
The group, led by Reverend Miroslaw Mejzner, were greeted by the Bishop of Aberdeen, Hugh Gilbert, when they arrived in the north-east.