In light of his medical condition and his profound lifelong desire to end his days in the Great and Angelic Schema (the fullness of the monastic life), Archimandrite Seraphim (Voepel) recently asked the ruling bishop of the Eastern American Diocese, Metropolitan Nicholas, to tonsure him as a schemamonk. Despite his innumerable duties and responsibilities as the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence showed his great archpastoral love for Fr. Seraphim and the brotherhood by coming to the monastery on very short notice, arriving on Great Monday of Holy Week.

That evening, following Bridegroom Matins, Metropolitan Nicholas and the brotherhood gathered in the abbot’s cell, where Fr. Seraphim made his final renunciation of the world and was reborn in Christ as Schema-Archimandrite Panteleimon. Schemamonk Anthony and Schemamonk Ignaty acted as his sponsors in the tonsure service.

In preparation for Fr. Panteleimon’s renunciation of all worldly cares, the previous day (Palm Sunday), the whole brotherhood gathered in church to serve a moleben, following which the senior fathers met and, after prayerful consideration, elected Abbot Gabriel (Hooten) as the next abbot of Holy Cross Monastery. The result of the election must be ratified by the Synod of Bishops before becoming official.

Please continue to keep Schema-Archimandrite Panteleimon in your prayers, and pray likewise for the entire brotherhood of Holy Cross Monastery as they go through this time of transition. Glory to God for all things!

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