Holy Cross Abbot Takes the Great Schema, Brotherhood Elects a New Abbot
In light of his medical condition and his profound lifelong desire to end his days in the Great and Angelic Schema (the fullness of the monastic life), Archimandrite Seraphim recently asked the monastery's bishop, Metropolitan Nicholas, to tonsure him as a schemamonk. Despite his innumerable duties and responsibilities as the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Vladyka Nicholas showed his great archpastoral love for Fr. Seraphim and the brotherhood by coming to the monastery on very short notice, arriving on Great Monday of Holy Week. That evening following Bridegroom Matins, Vladyka Nicholas and the brotherhood gathered in the abbot's kellia where Fr. Seraphim made his final renunciation of the world and was reborn in Christ as Schema-Archimandrite Panteleimon. Schemamonk Anthony and Schemamonk Ignaty acted as his sponsors in the tonsure service.
In preparation for Fr. Panteleimon's renunciation of all worldly cares, the previous day (Palm Sunday) the whole brotherhood gathered in church to serve a moleben, following which the senior fathers met and, after prayerful consideration, elected Igumen Gabriel as the next abbot of Holy Cross Monastery. The result of the election must be ratified by the Synod of Bishops before becoming official.
Please continue to keep our beloved father in Christ, Schema-Archimandrite Panteleimon, in your prayers, and pray likewise for all our brotherhood as we go through this time of transition. Glory to God for all things!
We are all remembering Schema Archimandrite Panteleimon in our parish liturgies and private prayers. May God grant him strength as he enters this new stage of life. Warm congratulations to Fr. Gabriel upon his election as Abbot. May God grant every blessing to the fathers and brethren of Holy Cross.
I only met the abbot once but even in that short encounter I naturally felt reverence for him when he spoke and welcomed me to holy cross. I hope he knows the effect of that small encounter had on the trajectory of my life. I had been studying orthodoxy and after traveling to holy cross the abbot, father David, and the other brothers cemented my decision to convert to holy orthodoxy. I look forward to seeing him again walking in the light of the Lord on streets of gold.
May the merciful Lord Jesus Christ granted you the delights of heaven in this life.
Axios to Schema-Archimandrite Panteleimon!
My prayers goes to you,to the new Abbot Gabriel and the brotherhood 🙏🏻
I will greatly miss my dear friend and brother. On the upside, I will have another heavenly intercessor.
Praying for God’s healing and mighty strength to be present with you all at this time.
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