On the evening of March 22, 2025, on the eve of the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross, Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia tonsured three novices at the Monastery of Saint Archdeacon Stephen in Slanci near Belgrade during the Vespers service. The novices—Igor (Mitrović), Dobrivoje (Marković), and Mijailo (Sekulić)—were tonsured into the lesser schema and received the monastic names Nikita, Matej, and Mihailo.
Addressing the newly tonsured monks of this ancient Slanci monastery, the Patriarch said:
“In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Dear Abbot, brothers of this holy monastery, newly tonsured monks—today heaven and earth rejoice together with us. Above all, the angels and archangels rejoice, because today we have taken the first step, a good and blessed beginning, by adding to this sacred brotherhood three new monks. Formerly novices, they now begin the angelic life, a life that mirrors the heavenly way of being in this world.
Through this act, the Lord once again shows His love for the world, His love for His creation. He opens paths and possibilities and blesses the way of life that aligns with the principles of His Kingdom. Every person is created for fullness, for perfection—without exception. Yet each of us is weighed down by egotism and pride, from which various passions and sins arise.
The difference between those who live in the Church and those outside it is that we, in the Church, recognize that a life in sin is indeed sin, that life far from God is life gone astray, and that life in Christ’s Church is blessed. Even though we are weak, powerless, and sinful, God, through His love, allows us—by our free choice—to begin tasting the mystery of His Kingdom, here and now.”
Patriarch Porfirije emphasized that life in the Church is a new birth, and the monastic life is a once-and-for-all birth in Christ—a life that not only follows nature but transcends it and seeks transformation.
“A person who desires the monastic path—called and invited by God’s love—does not reject others, does not scorn creation or those around him. Rather, pierced by the arrow of Christ’s love, he understands that we are all called to be transformed. The monk does not merely fight against what is contrary to nature but strives even to surpass what is natural, to be transfigured, and to become a witness to the Kingdom of God here and now.
Monasteries and monastic life are signs of the age to come. The monk is one who is crucified to the world, who takes up his cross and follows Christ, making his own cross the Cross of Christ. This means making his own life into the life of Christ—renouncing his thoughts, intellect, vision, words, even his virtues and his sense of holiness—handing it all over to Christ so that Christ may live in him.”
The Patriarch reminded the newly tonsured monks of the essential role of obedience in the monastic life:
“Fathers Nikita, Matej, and Mihailo—know that without obedience there is no transformation. Obedience is the prerequisite for all divine virtue. This is not only true for you but for all of us. A monk practices obedience to God’s word and will through obedience to his elder. Just as in family life, mutual obedience exists between spouses, between parents and children—so too in the monastery, obedience is the mystery of love for God. From love for Christ, everything else flows.
Of course, this path is not easy. To renounce oneself, to humble oneself to the utmost, following the example of Christ, is a narrow path. But if we remember that Christ—eternal, infinite, beginningless—took on everything that is ours except sin and became one of us for our salvation, we will understand that we have no right to walk any path but His: the path of renunciation, of crucifying our own will, our own being, our own mode of existence.”
He also stressed that humility alone is enough for salvation, while pride, egoism, and self-love are sufficient to lead to perdition.
“If we walk the path of humility, born of repentance and transformation, the Kingdom of God is already within us. Humility brings peace—as we heard in the prayers tonight. The monk is called to be an example and a comfort to others—not a judge—but one who brings God’s peace to all.
That is why monasteries exist—why God in His providence instituted the monastic way of life: to show us the path we are all called to walk. The monastic rules and spiritual ethos should permeate our lives, wherever we live and whatever our calling.”
In conclusion, Patriarch Porfirije said:
“May the Lord grant, dear Abbot, that the brethren entrusted to you be a source of joy and a blessing from God. And you, brethren, strive to emulate the saints whose names you now bear. Let your choice, made once and for all, be firm and unwavering. And even if, by the cunning of the evil one or your own weakness, you fall at times—never accept the fall as your normal state. Never allow failure to lead you into despair or spiritual despondency, from which there is little return. Never forget that God is love and that He came among us. Despair leads us to forget this and lose our faith—God forbid!
Today we are all blessed. May the Lord be with us all. And we, gathered here this evening, as well as all who come to this holy monastery, entrust ourselves to your prayers, hoping that the Lord will hear them—just as He hears the prayers of all His faithful. May our prayer, ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us sinners,’ be the ladder by which we ascend to Heaven and the rope by which the Lord lifts us into His Kingdom. To Him be glory now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.”
Source: spc.sr
