Five nuns tonsured at Biliv convent

Archbishop Pimen with the newly tonsured nuns. Photo: Press service of the Rivne Eparchy

On April 13, 2025, the Feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, a special event took place at the Nativity of the Theotokos Women’s Monastery in the village of Biliv – the monastic tonsure of five sisters of the community. This was reported by the press service of the Rivne Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

The rite was performed by Archbishop Pimen of Rivne and Ostroh. During the service, with special prayers and chanting, holding candles and dressed in garments symbolizing the renunciation of the world, the nuns made their vows before God and the Church, fully dedicating themselves to a life of service to the Lord.

At tonsure, the sisters received new names: Sister Zosima became Zinaida, Sister Makaria – Marionila, Sister Nonna – Nymphodora, Sister Lukia – Platonida, and Sister Glafira – Agrippina.

In his homily, Archbishop Pimen said: “Monasticism is not an escape from the world, but a deep entry into the struggle for the salvation of the soul. It is a path of love, obedience, and ceaseless prayer that leads to union with Christ. Today the sisters have made their choice – they follow Christ in the silence of monastic labor, and we pray that the Lord will strengthen them in this holy service.”

Earlier, the UOJ analyzed why the number of monastics in the UOC continues to grow amid persecution.

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