“Monasticism,” as our monastic father in Christ, Elder Bishop of Antania, His Grace Parthenius, once said, “is the heart of the spiritual life of the Church, the spring from which the saints and teachers of divine knowledge flow. In the depths of sacred tradition, monasticism is not merely a choice or a way of life, but, above all, it is applied theology, a living Gospel, an ascetic struggle to liberate man from the bonds of this world, in order to attain true and eternal freedom in Christ.”
Through the monastic life, human nature is transformed by participation in the life of the Risen Christ. This struggle is not merely an ascetic renunciation of the world, but, above all, a loving sacrifice in which the monk dedicates his entire being in pursuit of perfection, in the pursuit of God. This asceticism is an icon of the eschatological Kingdom, where man becomes what he is predestined to be—the image and likeness of God.
Thus, monasticism is a path of deification, wherein man, through the divine services, unceasing prayer, and communion with divine grace, perfects his being. The monastic life is a call to renounce selfishness, egotism, and personal desires, in order to embrace the will of Christ through humility, obedience, patience, and love.
In monasticism, the eternal truth is revealed—that man is created for communion with God. Every monk in his cell is a small world unto himself, yet also an arena in which the battle for eternal life takes place. Monks are not merely ascetics and prayerful intercessors; they are also living witnesses of the Kingdom that has already begun, of the Kingdom of God that has come with power (Mark 9:1), though it has yet to be fully revealed in its glory. Through their devotion, monks show the way for every Christian—the way to personal transformation and resurrection.
In a word, monastic life is the true and supreme theology in action, what the Fathers of the Church call the ‘liturgy of the heart,’ where every moment of life is offered as a sacrifice of love and striving toward God, through the unceasing remembrance of the Lord’s name and presence” (Excerpt from the monastic synaxis, September 2024).
The Most Holy Theotokos, who bore within herself the Divine Logos, is the most exalted icon of the monastic life, for in her complete humility and obedience to God’s will, she embodied the perfect asceticism of love. She is the greatest protector of monks and nuns, who, in renouncing the world, follow her sacrificial devotion and purity. As the spiritual Mother of all monastics, the Most Pure one constantly prays for those who seek God with all their heart, encouraging them in their struggle and guarding them from affliction and temptation. In her, monastics find their inspiration, comfort, and strength, for she is the purest example of total submission to God’s will—the path of deification that every monk strives to achieve.
In the spirit of these truths and in an atmosphere of sacred awe and deep spiritual joy, one of the most majestic moments in the life of our monastic community took place last evening at the Holy Monastery of Prechista in Kičevo—the tonsure of our sister Dušica Budinoska from Struga, who received her new monastic identity before God and before the people, bearing the name of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles and First-Martyr of Christ, Thekla. This heavenly-earthly event, filled with divine grace and quiet joy, brought before God yet another soul entirely dedicated to the struggle of love, another burning lamp before the Throne of the Triune God.
Sister Thekla, a spiritual child of our beloved father in Christ, Elder Bishop Parthenius, began her spiritual journey with his blessing under the vigilant and motherly care of the abbess of the Prechista Monastery, Nun Charitina. Her life thus far, filled with diligence, prayer, obedience, and sincere love for God, was sealed with the angelic tonsure, which was performed by the pastoral hands of our esteemed monastic-loving Metropolitan, His Eminence Timotej of Debar and Kičevo. This sacred and beautiful act took place in the blessed presence of the desired Bridegroom of monastic souls—our Lord Jesus Christ, the Mother of God, the Angels, the Saints, and the entire heavenly Church, while from the earthly Church, in addition to the Holy Dioceses of Debar and Antania, numerous monks, clergy from our diocese, and an uncountable number of faithful were present. Among those honored to attend were His Eminence Metropolitan Elijah of Oulu from the Church of Finland and the Athonite Elder, Archimandrite Antipas, with his esteemed synodia.
After the holy rite of tonsure, our dear Metropolitan Timotej, in his archpastoral address on monastic life, instructed Sister Thekla on her new path in life.
The sacred and festive atmosphere of the exceptionally beautiful church was further enriched by the angelic hymns and chants of our dear friend, Archimandrite Cherubim, and his companions from the Church of Greece, while on the left choir, the wondrous stichera were sung by the brothers of Bigorski Monastery and the choir “Metropolitan Kozma of Prechista” from Kičevo.
With the great presence of faithful, this event was a testimony to the unceasing love and grace that monastic life brings to the entire Church. The new bride of Christ, Thekla, sanctified through the monastic struggle, will continue to be a beacon of God’s love for all who encounter her, bearing witness to the true meaning of Christian life—a life of total dedication to God. May the good Christ bless her struggle and grant her strength to walk this thorny but grace-filled path, filled with prayer, humility, and love for God and neighbor. May her life be a source of grace and light for the entire church community, bearing witness to the power of monastic asceticism and the transforming power of God’s love! Amen.
