Albanian Church Invites Faithful to Witness Monastic Tonsure in Massachusetts

Holy Cross Chapel in Brookline. Photo: Open sources

BROOKLINE — Holy Trinity Albanian Orthodox Church has announced that Deacon Ian Abodeely will be tonsured into monasticism this evening, Wednesday, Nov. 12, during a special service at Holy Cross Chapel in Brookline. The event coincides with the Feast of St. John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria, and comes on the eve of the Feast of St. John Chrysostom.

According to the parish, Great Vespers will begin at 5 p.m., followed by the Rite of Tonsuring into Monasticism at 6:30 p.m., celebrated by His Grace Bishop Theophan of Philomelion, hierarch of the Albanian Orthodox Diocese of the Americas.

Calling it “a very rare and beautiful ancient rite of the Holy Orthodox Church,” the parish explained that the monastic tonsure “is, above all, a repeating of our baptismal vows… but not only that. We can also speak of the ‘Monastic Tonsure’ as a marriage. The soul of a monk or nun enters into marriage with Christ, and the angels are present at this moment and bear witness to the sacredness and indissolubility of this union.”

Parishioners are invited to attend what the church described as “a unique opportunity” to witness the ancient rite and celebrate this sacred milestone in the life of their deacon.

Previously, UOJ reported that the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America recently announced the successful completion of the 5th Monastic Synaxis, held at Holy Archangels Monastery in Kendalia, Texas

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