The press service of the Vinnytsia eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church reported that St. Elijah's Monastery in Vinnytsia had become the place of a monastic tonsure for the first time in its history. The rite was performed by Metropolitan Varsonofiy of Vinnytsia and Bar on the evening of 23 August 2026, the twelfth Sunday after Pentecost.
According to the report, the tonsure was received by a resident of the house, hierodeacon Sofroniy (Cherneha); at the tonsure he was given the new name Lavrentiy, in honour of the venerable confessor Lavrentiy of Chernihiv. The rite took place in the monastery's lower church, dedicated to the Hieromartyr Innokentii, Archbishop of Vinnytsia.
The eparchy reports that the house was founded in April 2021 with the blessing and support of Metropolitan Varsonofiy. Its abbot is Archimandrite Arcadius (Senchukovskyi); he prayed at the rite together with the residents of the monastery and clergy of the Vinnytsia and other eparchies.
The report also says that after the tonsure Metropolitan Varsonofiy addressed the newly tonsured monk Lavrentiy with a word of exhortation, in which he spoke of the life, the confessor's ministry and the spiritual steadfastness in times of trial of the venerable Lavrentiy of Chernihiv. In conclusion the hierarch began the reading of the Psalter, which the brethren of the monastery will continue without interruption in these days.
Sources: Vinnytsia eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 23 August 2026; Synodal Information and Education Department of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 24 August 2026.
