After celebrating Great Vespers for the Meeting of the Lord, three of our Sisters were tonsured by His Grace, Bishop Serafim (Baltić). Sister Porphyria was tonsured a Rassophore Nun, followed by Mother Serafima (formerly Sister Glykeria) and Mother Ambrosia (formerly Sister Anysia) being tonsured into the Small Schema.
The tonsure is not an award or the sign of the finish line. Rather, it is entering a new arena, a new struggle. The service itself reflects this, as the Small Schema tonsure service opens with the troparion, “Make haste to open fatherly arms unto me, for I have spent my life as the Prodigal. Despise not my heart which is now impoverished, O Savior, and looks upon the inexhaustible riches of Thy mercies. For to Thee, O Lord, I cry out with compunction: ‘Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before Thee!’” And it ends with the faithful lining up to greet the newly tonsured with, “What is your name?” and then “Save yourself in the Angelic Rank.” There is no “congratulations,” no “many years,” but “save yourself.” The Sisters are given armor and weapons, blessed by the bishop, for new levels of spiritual warfare. Or, as one of the sisters noted, “New levels with new devils, or the same devils working overtime.” In spiritual warfare, victory is not a happy ending, not resting on your laurels. It is knowing that our enemy knows us better than we know ourselves, and that we will probably lose. We will choose our pride, or our self-will, or whatever thing we have that is hard to say no to. But, being tonsured, taking that step, means that we commit to keep getting up, to keep going, remembering the words of St. Paul: “And He said unto me, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Through the prayers of the Most Holy Theotokos, Seeker of the Lost, St. Serafim of Sarov, St. Ambrose of Optina, St. Porphyrios of Kafsokalyvia, St. Mary of Egypt, and all the saints, may the Lord grant us good repentance.
Photo: “This is a picture of nuns standing in front of the church next to the big icon. The bishop is in the middle.”
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