On Saturday, 8 July 2023, according to the monastic order of Mount Athos, the monastic tonsures of five brothers from the novitiate of the Skete took place at the Holy Vatopedi Coenobitic Skete of Apostle Andrew and Saint Anthony the Great (Serai).
The Abbot of the Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi, Archimandrite Ephraim conducted the tonsures, following the invitation of the Righteous Elder Nektarios, in accordance with the order of Mount Athos.
The five new fathers received the names Porphyrios, in honour of Saint Porphyrios Kavsokalyvitis, Andreas and Antonios, in honour of the patron Saints of Skete, Gabriel, in honour of the Archangel, and Kosmas, for Saint Kosmas Aetolos and Philotheitis. The names had already been chosen by the blessed Righteous Elder Ephraim of Serai, which he had left as a bequest.
After the end of the Divine Liturgy, a feast followed, during which Elder Ephraim of Vatopedi spoke appropriately, who addressing the newly tonsured fathers, whom he paternally admonished emphasising the importance of obedience and spiritual ascesis in the life of the monk.
