Ukraine, April 3, 2025
On March 26, Met. Theodosy of Cherkasy tonsured four nuns, naming them in honor of the Royal Martyrs Olga, Maria, Tatiana, and Anastasia, and other in honor of St. Alipy of the Kiev Caves. Photo: Cherkasy.church.ua
Nearly three dozen men and women of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church have given their lives to Christ in holy monasticism so far during this Great Lent.
It is often said that the state of a Local Church can be seen in the state of its monasticism. Thus, the vibrancy of the monastic vocation in the Ukrainian Church shows that it remains spiritually strong despite the ongoing war and the severe persecution from local and state authorities.
On March 27, two monks were tonsured at the Kiev Caves Lavra, in honor of St. Barlaam of the Caves and St. Anastasy of the Caves. Photo: lavra.ua
According to reports gathered by Orthodox Life (see here, here, and here) and reports from the UOC’s Department for Information and Education (see here, here, and here), at least 35 monastics of all levels—riassaphore, stavrophore, and great schema—have taken monastics vows during Lent so far.
This includes 24 nuns and 10 monks across 17 monasteries, convents, cathedrals, and theological academies.
Today, there are more than 300 active monasteries in the UOC, with about 5,000 monks and nuns serving Christ in the angelic habit.
Meanwhile, the schismatic “Orthodox Church of Ukraine,” has, as of 2021 (the last time it published the relevant data), 79 monasteries with 233 monastics (62 of whom are “bishops”), meaning there are an average of 2 monastics in each of its monasteries.
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