In Sofroniyivsky Monastery of Sumy region the monk was tonsured into the great schema

On the Feast of the Entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem, a significant spiritual event took place at the Sophronievo-Molchensky Monastery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church — the tonsure of a monk into the great schema. The solemn rite was performed on April 5, 2026 in the village of Novaya Sloboda, Sumy region. This is reported by the press service of Konotop diocese.

With the blessing of Metropolitan of Konotop and Glukhov Roman, the rank of tonsure was headed by the vicar of the monastery Archimandrite Diodor (Dudka). During the divine service the newly tonsured schema was given the name Athanasius in honor of the Monk Athanasius of Athos. Acceptance of the great schema, or the great angelic image, marks the highest degree of monastic feat.

The diocese reminds that the great schema implies almost complete alienation from worldly vanity for the sake of deep prayerful union with God. The vows taken at the tonsure are a repetition of the vows of the minor schema, but impose on the schema-bearer obligations to observe them even more strictly and zealously. The tradition of changing one’s name upon assuming the great angelic image symbolizes the final renunciation of the past and the beginning of a new stage of spiritual life.