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Greetings,

Does anyone have a copy of the monastic profession ceremony, and if so, is it available online?

Thanks

Peter

Br. Peter,

You might give Holy Resurrection Monastery a call. Given that they are just past their pilgrimage, I'd think they are probably swamped in e-mail right now.

Good luck!

Sharon

dear Br. Peter:

try "Monasticism in the Orthodox Churches" by N. F. Robinson S.S.J.E.
(London" Cope and Fenwick, 1916)

It has EVERYTHING in it: for Rasophore, Microschemos & the Angelic Schema - as well as an excellent Introduction and Footnotes!

cix

herb.

Do you want the Greek or the Slavic form? The Greek form is contained in the "Mega Euchologion" and the Slavic is in the "Greater Book of Needs" (Trebnik). It would also depend on which state of monastic profession is being considered.

Each monastic state (Rassophore, Lesser Schema, Greater Schema) has its own investiture prayers.

For the Rassophore (most simple) there is the Nachalo Obychne (usual beginning prayers), penetential Troparia, a prayer by the Hegumen for those about to enter the angelic state, and then the tonsure in the form of a cross. After tonsire the Hegumen invests the monk in his/her riassa and kamilavka (without veil).

The Lesser Schema takes place before Matins or the Divine Liturgy. The monk receives his garments in the narthex, as a symbol of renounciation of the world. Traditionally the monk is barefoot for this, as he is shod as part of the investiture ceremony.

There is a questioning by the Hegumen to monk asking what he seeks, if he intends to be obedient to the Hegumen, renounce the world, be chaste, etc.

The scissors are given back and forth from the Hegumen three times, who commands the monk to take them from him and give them back as a visible sign of obedience to the Hegumen. There is another tonsure that is symbolic of the re-commitment of the monk to an even more austere level of monastic life. The monk is then given his/her "new" monastic name during the tonsure. After the tonsure the monk recieves the mantiya, paramand, sandals, klobuk/kamilavka now with a veil, and a chotki or lestovka.

The ektenia is sung and the All of you who have been baptized into Christ" is sung with proper epistle and Gospel. The new schemamonk is then presented with a candle and cross and all of the community come to give the new monk the kiss (triple in Slavic usage) with the appropriate greeting. The Great Schema services also have their own peculiarity, and most great skimniks become hermits after consecration.

This is a very simple overview and the appropriate service books will give you the proper prayers for the Hegumen and other notes.

Dear Diak,

I've often wondered what the difference between a "paraman" and the "analavos" is? I think the latter is given to the highest grade of monk, the Great Schema.

But what about the "paraman?"

And is the Carmelite scapular a "paraman" truly so called, as some of our Ukrainian prayerbooks that promote the scapular say it is?

Finally, if the monk who is not a priest cannot bless anyone, why is he given a hand Cross?

Is it for meditation only?

Alex

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon us. Amen.

Dear Alex,

The paraman is a square of cloth embroidered with the signs of the passion and is worn on the back. There a cords linking the corners and the cross over the breast at the front. A wooden cross is worn trapped under the cords. The analavos is part of the great schema and is the long scapular which is attatched to the pointed hood. Very often this is only worn when the Veliky skhimnik receives the Holy Communion.

The cross given to the professed monk is part of the symbolic armour and a weapon against the devil.

S Bogom -
Mark, monk and sinner.

Slava Jesu Kristu,

Oh, to be in the peace of the monastery - perhaps one day. Despite the isolation, I feel the monastic state to be very appealing. G-d bless those who follow its narrow path.

Dmitri