Mt. Athos, July 12, 2023
Photo: vema.com.au
A joyous occasion occurred on Mt. Athos on Saturday, as several men were tonsured into the angelic life at the Skete of St. Andrew the Apostle and St. Anthony the Great.
The skete, which is located in the Athonite capital of Karyes, is a dependency of Vatopedi Monastery, and at the invitation of Elder Nektarios, the tonsures were served by Elder Ephraim, the abbot of Vatopedi, reports vema.com.au.
The five new monks received the names:
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Porphyrios, in honor of St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia
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Andreas, in honor of the Apostle
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Antonios, in honor of the great father of monasticism
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Gabriel, in honor of the Archangel
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Kosmas, in honor of St. Kosmas Aetolos
Their names had already been chosen by Elder Ephraim of St. Andrew’s Skete, the former abbot who reposed in March following a battle with cancer (the Elder made a very moving statement shortly before his repose, thanking God for the gift of suffering).
Following the Divine Liturgy, the skete offered a feast, during which Elder Ephraim of Vatopedi offered paternal advice to the new monks, emphasizing the importance of obedience and asceticism in the life of a monk.
See the photo gallery, “This is Paradise: Everyday Life in St. Andrew Skete on Mt. Athos” for many scenes from around the monastery.
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