On the eve of the feast of the Laudation of the Most Holy Mother of God, the Metropolitan Georgiy of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas performed the second Ryassophor tonsure of this year’s Lenten season in the “Joy of All Who Sorrow” house church.

The three novices of Diveyevo gained new heavenly patrons, as in tonsure they were named in honor of the new martyrs, Martyr Lyudmila Petrova, Venerable Martyr Irina Frolova and Venerable Martyr Nina (Shuvalova).

Metropolitan Georgiy presented the newly tonsured sisters to Hegumenia Sergia, their spiritual mother, and offered the words of admonition to them: “By the grace of God, you were vouchsafed worthy to step on the path of monasticism on the feast of the Laudation of the Most Holy Mother of God in the Fourth Lot of the Mother of God. Speaking of obedience, the holy fathers place it above fasting and prayer. Obedience is closely connected with the virtue of submitting to life under blessing. If you live according to your own will, you will drive God out of your life, and your soul and heart will grow dark and embittered.

Through Adam’s disobedience sin entered the lives of men, and likewise, through the severance of our own will we cast iniquity out of our lives.”

According to the Typikon, the newly tonsured sisters will remain in the church for three days, receiving Holy Communion at every liturgy.