monastic tonsure

Two nuns tonsured at Orthodox Monastery in Scotland on Annunciation Feast

Two sisters from the community of Mull Monastery in Scotland received the monastic tonsure on the Eve of the Annunciation, according to announcements shared on the monastery’s Facebook page and by Archimandrite Serafim Aldea, abbot of the neighbouring monastery on the Isle of Iona. Sister Teodora received the name Mother Thaney, while Sister Maria became…

Apr 2, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Two theologians become monks on St Nicholas’ feast

Two theologians were tonsured monks on the eve and the feast day of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker. The postulants were known to the public for their work: Mihai Grigoriu, now Monk Macarie, is sexton of the Patriarchal Cathedral, while patriarchal advisor Aurelian Iftimiu, who became Monk Nicolae, is the director of the Basilica News Agency.…

Dec 20, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

Called to become like angels: A dozen monastic tonsures in recent days

A number of men and women have given their lives to Christ in monasticism in the past several days in dioceses of the Romanian Orthodox Church both at home and abroad. Munich In Munich, His Eminence Metropolitan Serafim of Germany and Central and Northern Europe celebrated the first rite of tonsure for the new St.…

Apr 4, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch of Romania celebrates 35th anniversary of his monastic tonsure at Cernica Monastery

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel attended the patronal feast of Cernica Monastery on Saturday, August 6. The monastic community congratulated the Patriarch of Romania on the 35th anniversary of his monastic tonsure. His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel attended the Divine Liturgy celebrated by an assembly of priests, including Archimandrite Nectarie Șofelea, Exarch of the monasteries of the…

Aug 10, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

After 15 years of preparation, French octogenarian Françoise Détouche becomes Sister Radegund at Văratic Monastery

Converted to Orthodoxy in 1990, a French octogenarian received the monastic tonsure at Văratic Monastery after fifteen years of preparation. Under the mantle of the Abbess Iosefina Giosanu, Françoise Détouche received the name of Saint Radegund (+587), a Thuringian princess and Frankish queen, who founded a monastery at Poitiers, who is revered as a Saint…

Dec 14, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Photo report: Orthodox monastic tonsure

The person who enters the monastery and wishes to become a monastic must first go through two stages: the novitiate and the rasophoria. The novitiate is a trial period, in which the brother or sister spends time in the monastery to figure out if they have an authentic vocation for monasticism. Rasophoria is a stronger…

Sep 24, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Five nuns tonsured at Căşiel Monastery

On the day that the Orthodox Church commemorates the Elevation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross, five nuns of Căşiel Monastery in Valea Cășeielului in northern Romania bravely took up their own crosses, offering their monastic vows. The rite of tonsuring was celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Andrei of Cluj following the Vigil on the…

Sep 19, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu