April 3, 2012
Jordanville, NY: Archimandrite Luke tonsured two monks of Holy
Trinity Monastery to the Lesser Schema
On
Friday, March 27, two rassophore monks were tonsured to the Lesser
Schema at
Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY.
After Matins, monks Laurence and Dionysy entered the altar, were
they received the blessing of the abbot, Archimandrite Luke
(Murianka) and then proceeded to venerate the holy icons. During the
First Hour, they put on white gowns as one does when he is to be
baptized. Upon completion of the service, they were led by the
monastery’s hieromonks to the middle of the church, where they made
three prostrations, during which the choir sang the sessional hymn
after the Third Ode of the Canon from Sunday of the Prodigal Son:
"Thy fatherly embrace hasten
to open to me, for like the prodigal have I spent my life. Disdain
not a heart now impoverished O Saviour, Who hast before Thine eyes
the inexpressible riches of Thy mercies. For to Thee, O Lord, in
compunction I cry: Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and before
Thee."
When they reached the front of the ambo, the abbot signaled them to
get up and read the prayers of the tonsure.
The abbot then questions him who approaches: "Why hast thou come
hither, Brother, falling down before the Holy Altar and before this
Holy Assembly?" The Abbot knows why he has come, but he asks this so
that the desire of his heart may be made manifest to all. Having
received the reply, "I am desirous of the life of asceticism,
Reverend Father," he again asks, "Desirest thou to be deserving of
the Angelic Habit and to be ranked in the company of the monastics?”
‒ "Yes, God helping me, Reverend Father," the novice humbly replies;
the rector then blesses his intention with the words: "Truly a good
and blessed work hast thou chosen; but only if thou dost also
accomplish it. For good works are obtained by labour, and achieved
with pain."
Not
content with the voluntary approach of the novice and his initial
confession, he poses further such questions: of his own good will
cometh he to the Lord ‒ not by any necessity, or constraint; will he
abide in the monastery and the ascetic life until his very last
breath? Will he keep himself in chastity, sobriety and piety, and in
obedience to the superior and all the brethren? Will he endure all
the strain tribulation belonging to the monastic life, for the
Kingdom of Heaven’s sake? To each of these questions he hears the
novice’s same humble reply, filled with knowledge of his infirmity
and hope in grace-filled aid: "Yes, God working with me, honourable
father."
Fr. Laurence was tonsured with the name of John, in honor of St John
of Shanghai & St. Francisco, while Fr. Dionysy received the name of
St. Seraphim of Sarov.
Archimandrite Luke counseled the newly tonsured monks to become
imitators of the lives of the saints whose names they received and
to struggle in humility, enduring all afflictions for the salvation
of their souls. At the end of the moving service, everyone went up
to the newly tonsured monastics and greeted them with the
traditional greeting, "What is your name, father?", to which they
replied, "Sinful monk John, Seraphim."
May our Lord help the newly tonsured monks to live steadfastly their
monastic vocation by a pure and virtuous life, so that their life
might become a light to the world.
