24.08.2009

Today is a great feast – the tenth anniversary of the Convent. We have a monastic tonsure. This is a Great Supper that the Lord has prepared as He greets back His lost children. This joy is shared by many people who came to the church that day. Everybody waits for the sacrament of tonsure to begin.

Two rows of monastic sisters in the centre of the nave. Three Rassaphore sisters are standing opposite the sanctuary. They wear white robes with their heads uncovered. The sisters resemble sacrificial lambs. A soul is frightened and trembles when she goes into the embrace of the Loving God, and she understands that she can not bring anything to God, not a sacrifice. She understands that she has not obtained anything good but on the contrary, she lost and wasted the talents that she had received from the Lord. What can the soul bring to the altar? “A contrite and humbled heart.”

The rite of monastic tonsure begins. The sisters lay down on the ground (the rite implies that they are to crawl to the solea on their elbows only) –a difficult road to Transfiguration lies in front of them. Elder sisters cover them with their veils to hide the sisters from the eyes of people standing nearby. The solea is not far from them, but it seems that all life is measured by it. The soul cries to God, “Lord, I can not crawl any farther!” Elbows are sore. The sisters stop several times on their way to the solea, and there are some moments of silence. Nailed to the cross with Christ...

O Lord, how many times will I have to fall down and rise again? A soul bound by vices will always feel itself like a bird in the cage, for narrow is the path that she ought to follow. Yet she knows that she will not be able to find this beauty and grace anywhere else…

Monastic garments that the sisters have now received symbolize inner silence, humility, and renouncement of worldly vanity. Their mantles – Angel’s wings – flow down their shoulders. However, a monastic is also a soldier. The struggle against sin is pending. That is why they have a helmet (klobuk) on their heads, and a cross with a candle in their hands.

The tonsure is over. Through the grace of the Holy Spirit given thanks to God’s love a human being begins a new life. Traditionally, this is symbolised by giving the nuns new names:

— What is your name, Sister?

— Sinful Nun Vera [1].

— What is your name, Sister?

— Sinful Nun Nadezhda [2].

— What is your name, Sister?

— Sinful Nun Lyubov [3].

Monasticism

Monasticism is when a soul suffers,
Seeing her sin and inability in all her actions,
Monasticism is when a soul longs for God,
Asking Him to have mercy on her during the falls.
Monasticism is when a soul seeks God
In obedience and self-rejection.
Monasticism is when a soul stands before God
In prayer, both alone and together with the others.
Monasticism is when a soul finds God
Through Repentance and Holy Sacraments
Monasticism is when a soul does not abandon God,
Even if she cries sometimes because of her infirmity.
Monasticism is when a soul thanks God
For humiliation and affliction.
Monasticism is when a soul humbles and loves those who hurt her,
Just as God does.
Monasticism is when a soul praises God
For the Love of Christ that saves the world.
Monasticism is when a soul dies to the world and lives with God,
A life concealed from all other people.

Nun Matrona

Homily of His Eminence PHILARET, Metropolitan of Minsk and Slutsk, after the rite of tonsure in St Elisabeth Convent on August 22, 2009

Dear brothers and sisters,

We greet you wholeheartedly and congratulate you on joining the community of this holy Convent by nuns and sisters who have started their monastic life today. May the Lord help us fulfil all our deep and sincere intentions to serve the Lord with zeal and daring, and, what is more important, with love to Him and all people. All people are equal before God, brothers and sisters, we all are His beloved spiritual children. The Lord is sweet to all, and His sacrificial Love spreads over all of us because He shed His most pure Blood for each one of us. Likewise, we ought to go our path with love to everybody. Monastics are among the first of these wandering followers of Christ. Today we have witnessed the growth in the number of those who are ready to follow Christ. May God help you! We will all remember Vera, Nadezhda and Lyubov very well.

Dear sisters, I greet you and bless you. May your pure and sincere prayer help all of us love and venerate others, primarily those whom the Lord called us to live and to work with. I congratulate Mother Abbess and the spiritual father of the Convent on the growth of the community of St Elisabeth Convent. May the Lord help each of us to fulfil our spiritual obligation before Him and before one another. May the Lord save you!

1) her name used to be Sr Olga

2) her name used to be Sr Tatiana

3) her name used to be Sr Irina