The tonsures took place on 17 December 2024 in the women's monastery in the settlement of Hoshcha, Rivne region. The house is the Goshcha Protection of the Mother of God Convent of the Rivne eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Archbishop Pymen of Rivne and Ostroh performed both the rite of tonsure into the great schema and the rassophore tonsure, the eparchial press service reported; according to it, the tonsures fell on the day of the memory of the Great Martyr Barbara.
According to the press service, three nuns of the house were tonsured into the great schema: the nun Emiliia, who received the name Yevdokiia in honour of the Venerable Martyr Eudokia, abbess of Heliopolis; the nun Hlafira, who received the name Hlykeriia in honour of the Martyr Glykeria of Adrianople; and the nun Oleksandra, who received the name Paraskeva in honour of the Great Martyr Paraskeva.
Two novices of the monastery received the rassophore tonsure: Iryna, who was given the name Ilariia in honour of the Martyr Hilaria of Rome, and Liudmyla, who was given the name Fevroniia in honour of Princess Febronia of Murom.
After the rites Archbishop Pymen addressed the newly tonsured sisters: he called monasticism a labour of love for God and their dedication a testimony that they were giving themselves entirely to the service of the Lord, and wished them firmness of spirit and zeal in prayer, the press service related.
Sources: Rivne eparchy of the UOC, 18 December 2024; Information and Education Department of the UOC, 18 December 2024.
