Monastic tonsures are performed in UOC nunneries

In the period from March 19 to 22, 2026 in a number of women’s monasteries of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church solemn rites of monastic tonsure took place. As the Information and Education Department of the UOC reports with reference to diocesan press services, new nuns took the angelic image in Mykhnovsky, Krasnogorsk and Florovsky monasteries.

A series of spiritual celebrations began on March 19, Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent. In the Mikhnovsky nunnery in Volyn, the tonsure was performed by Archbishop Athanasius of Kamen-Kashirsk, vicar of the Volyn diocese. The newly tonsured nun received the name Nectaria in honor of St. Nectarius of Aegina. Later, on March 21, Metropolitan Theodosius of Cherkassy and Kanev led the rite of tonsure at the Krasnogorsk Pokrovsky Monastery in Cherkassy region.

The largest number of tonsures was performed on March 22 in Kiev. With the blessing of His Beatitude Metropolitan Onuphrius, Archbishop Mark of Borodyansk performed the monastic tonsure of six nuns of the Holy Ascension Florovsky Monastery. The service was prayed for by the abbess of the monastery, Abbess Evlampiya, sisters and parishioners of the monastery.

At the end of the rites, the hierarchs of the UOC addressed the newly tonsured nuns with words of farewell, wishing them God’s help in carrying out monastic obedience and faithfulness to the chosen path of service to God and the Church. According to the established tradition, all those present congratulated the sisters on receiving the monastic rank.