Two theologians were tonsured monks on the eve and the feast day of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker. The postulants were known to the public for their work: Mihai Grigoriu, now Monk Macarie, is sexton of the Patriarchal Cathedral, while patriarchal advisor Aurelian Iftimiu, who became Monk Nicolae, is the director of the Basilica News Agency.
The monastic tonsure of two theologians was featured in an article published by Razvan Clipici in the Patriarchate’s Lumina Newspaper.
Full text (with subheads by Basilica.ro):
Two theologians become monks on St Nicholas’ feast
We live in an age in which man is wasting himself in many useless, ephemeral activities, alien to the purpose for which God created him. In such a period marked by secularisation, it is necessary to relate to monasticism, which is the central pillar that has kept the dynamic teaching and tradition of the Orthodox Church unaltered for over 2,000 years, regardless of either adverse or favourable times.
For any monastic community, the reception of the angelic schema or the reception of a novice into monasticism is a joy and a blessing. For the faithful and monks of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, two such events took place this month, which brought great joy to the monasteries of Radu Vodă and Cernica.
Two theologians chose to promise before the Holy Altar that they would live a life of prayer, repentance, chastity, obedience and nonacquisitiveness until their death, enduring all for the love they have for God and people.
Tonsure on the feast of St Sava the Sanctified
Mihai Grigoriu received the monastic tonsure at Radu Vodă Monastery on the feast day of St Sava the Sanctified, one of the greatest spiritual fathers, organizer of Palestinian monasticism, and on the eve of the feast of St Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia.
The service was officiated by Archimandrite Nectarie Șofelea, abbot of the monastery and exarch of the monasteries within the Archdiocese of Bucharest. Archimandrite Dionisie Constantin, a patriarchal counsellor, was the candidate’s monastic godfather.
The service was attended by the two patriarchal auxiliary bishops, His Grace Varlaam of Ploiești and His Grace Paisie of Sinaia, and by many members of the clergy, monks and faithful.
The young monk, who received the name Macarie, is a graduate of the “Patriarch Justinian” Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Bucharest and has distinguished himself in his work as a devoted servant of the Patriarchal Cathedral, being a sexton there since 2006.
Father Macarie has published the following books: “The Life of Saint Demetrius the New, Patron Saint of Bucharest”, “The Patriarchal Cathedral. Epigraphic Sources” and coordinated the production of the volume “Saint Demetrius the New, Protector of Bucharest – Words to pilgrims, Studies and Contemporary Testimonies”.
“Living the essential, which is life in God”
At the end of the service, His Grace Bp Paisie of Sinaia spoke about the spiritual work that the monk is called to do: “To reduce existence in the world to yourself and God does not mean to forget the world but to approach and live the essential, that is, a life in God, Who can change the world for the better; to live in the presence of God with intensity, conviction, seriousness and depth”.
“The essential and priority communion between oneself and God is the foundation of communion between people, as well as the guarantee of the communion of saints in love, truth and light. If we, as individuals, do not develop a real and deep relationship with God, we will not be able to develop real and sincere relationships with each other in the community.”
Monastic vows offered on the feast day of St Nicholas
The next day, on the feast of the Holy Hierarch Nicholas, after Vespers, when church bells began to sing hymns of praise for St Ambrose of Milan and St Philothea of Arges, celebrated on December 7, the monks of Cernica Monastery had the joy to participate in the monastic tonsure of novice Aurelian Iftimiu.
The service was held in the Church of St. Nicholas on the Cernica islet, the early-19th-century foundation of Abbot Timothy. Their Graces the patriarchal auxiliary bishops Varlaam of Ploiești and Paisie of Sinaia, and His Grace Timotei of Prahova, Auxiliary Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest attended the service. The service was also attended by numerous clergy members, monks and faithful, many working in church administration.
Monk Nicolae Iftimiu is a graduate of “Patriarch Justinian” Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Bucharest and of the Faculty of International Relations and Economics of the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies and is currently doing his doctoral studies at the Faculty of Theology in Bucharest, specialising in Systematic Theology.
Father Nicolae is a patriarchal counsellor and director of the Romanian Patriarchate’s Basilica News Agency. He published the volume “Covetousness and the Pastoral Care of the Greedy” as well as other articles and translations of theological writings.
During the service, the monk, who dedicated his life to the service of Christ, was given the name Nicholas, after the much-beloved saint honoured that day.
Archimandrite Clement Haralam, Grand Ecclesiarch of the Patriarchal Cathedral, officiated the rite. Monk Nicolae had as monastic godparents Protosyncellus Vasile Pârjol, abbot of Cernica Monastery, and Archimandrite Siluan Antoci, abbot of the “Exaltation of the Holy Cross” Monastery in Brusturi, Neamț county, Romania.
“The essence of the mission is the witness of Christ”
“The essence of the mission is the witness of Christ, that is, of His life, His suffering, His death and His resurrection, in obedience to God the Father and out of love for people. The risen Christ is the One whom we must profess and whose life we must share,” said His Grace Bishop Paisie of Sinaia at the end of the ceremony.
“The apostles of Christ and all their followers are not sent to communicate themselves, to show off their qualities, talents or abilities. Instead, they have the honour of offering Christ to the world through their way of life, by proclaiming the Gospel, by words, by good works, by the Holy Mysteries, announcing to all the good news of salvation, like the first apostles.”
“And amid this mission to which he is called, Father Nicholas must also fulfil the mystical call of the monastic cross, of withdrawing from the world to serve more to the sanctification of the world,” the hierarch said.
The two monastic tonsures officiated in the Archdiocese of Bucharest at the beginning of this month, on the feast of Holy Hierarch Nicholas, invite us to reflect on our spiritual life.
Whether we are lay people or monks, we all owe it to ourselves to keep in our hearts readiness to sacrifice, repentance and love for our brothers and sisters so that we may thus crucify our passions, which are sinful habits alienating us from God. We are all called to sanctify our lives to enter the eternal communion of love with God, the Source of holiness.
Regarding the need for such a way of life revolving around the teachings of our Saviour Jesus Christ, which many choose to embrace by joining monastic communities, St. John Chrysostom confessed: “I have often prayed that there would be no need for monasteries. I wish there were so great understanding and good order in the world that no one would need to flee into the wilderness. But because everything has turned upside down, (…) people who want peace leave the cities and embrace the wilderness” (Apologia for Monastic Life, EIBMBOR, 2007, p. 200).
Read more:
Photo credit: Basilica.ro / Raluca Ene (article opening)
Follow us on Twitter: @BasilicaNews
