Great schema tonsure performed at Sofroniyevo Monastery in Sumy region

Tonsure at the Sofroniyevo-Molchensky Monastery. Photo: Konotop Eparchy

On April 5, 2026, on the feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, a great schema tonsure was performed at the UOC’s Sofroniyevo-Molchensky Monastery for men in the village of Nova Sloboda, Sumy region, according to the press service of the Konotop Eparchy.

With the blessing of Metropolitan Roman of Konotop and Hlukhiv, the rite was led by the monastery’s abbot, Archimandrite Diodor (Dudka).

The newly tonsured schemamonk received the name Athanasiy, in honor of St. Athanasius the Athonite.

As the eparchy noted, the great schema signifies the fullest possible renunciation of worldly cares for the sake of complete union with God. A monk who receives the great schema – also known as the great angelic habit – is called a schemamonk. During the rite, he takes special vows, and his name is sometimes changed. The vows of the great schema repeat those of the lesser schema, but bind the monk to an even stricter observance of them.

Earlier, UOJ wrote that three monastic tonsures were performed at the Mezhyrich Monastery.

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