The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

JERUSALEM: April 23, 2021
Tonsures at Ascension of the Lord Convent on the Mt of Olives

On the evening of the Fifth Sunday of Great Lent, April 18, 2021, two novices of Ascension of the Lord Convent on the Mt of Olives were tonsured to monasticism.

After the reading of the First Hour, to the singing of “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” Abbess Varvara (Novikova) presented the sisters to Archimandrite Roman (Krassovsky), Chief of the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Jerusalem. Fr Roman tonsured them and blessed them to wear the monastic rassa. Upon their tonsure, the new nuns were given new names: Sister Valentina (Ashikhmina) was given the name Sevastiana in honor of St Sebastian of Karagandin, and Sister Natalia (Arsibekova) was named Anisia in honor of Holy Martyr Anisia of Thessalonika.

After words of guidance, Fr Roman entrusted the new nuns to the abbess with the words "As to Christ submit yourselves to the elders, be patient in all things, humble, obedient, meek and silent, and you will obtain grace before God, and shall be saved."