Corfu, Greece – On the evening of Friday, November 21, 2025, the Holy Monastery of Agia Paraskevi in Sgourades, Northern Corfu, was the setting for a significant spiritual event: the tonsure of a new nun. His Eminence Metropolitan Nektarios of Corfu, Paxos, and Diapontia Islands presided over the Great Vespers service, followed by the tonsure ceremony for a new member of the sisterhood, who received the name Panagouda.
Metropolitan Nektarios’s Words of Guidance for the New Nun
The ceremony, held on the eve of the Feast of Saint Iakovos of Evia and coinciding with the Feast of the Entry of the Theotokos, saw Metropolitan Nektarios deliver a heartfelt admonition to the newly tonsured nun. He emphasized that divine grace had called her away from her homeland to cultivate the virtue of “xeniteia” (foreignness or detachment), a virtue deemed crucial for monastics by the Holy Fathers.
Metropolitan Nektarios clarified that “xeniteia” extends beyond physical distance from one’s place of origin. It encompasses detachment from one’s sinful self, independence from worldly attachments, and the subjugation of one’s own will. He stressed that the monastery becomes the new homeland for monastics, serving as a prelude to their future heavenly abode. Therefore, monastics are called to strive tirelessly to shed all worldly burdens and passions.
The Role of Hesychasm and Inner Purity
Referring to Saint Gregory Palamas, the Metropolitan highlighted the importance of “hesychia” (stillness or quietude) in achieving spiritual perfection and union with God. He explained that “xeniteia” and “hesychia” facilitate inner purification, which is essential for communion with God through prayer.
Saint Gregory Palamas, through these spiritual paths and unceasing prayer, experienced the uncreated light of Tabor, symbolizing the grace of God that inwardly renews individuals, transforming them into children of light. “Light is the Father, Light is the Son, and Light is the Holy Spirit,” Metropolitan Nektarios quoted, underscoring the divine light that guides monastics to experience a divine love for Christ, the bridegroom of their lives.
A Commitment to Divine Love and Spiritual Progress
Concluding his address, Metropolitan Nektarios expressed his fervent wish that Sister Panagouda’s decision to dedicate her life to God would be a choice rooted in divine love. He invoked the intercession of Saint Paraskevi for the entire sisterhood and for Sister Panagouda individually, encouraging her to work tirelessly for her spiritual advancement through obedience, love, and willingness.
He drew a parallel to Lot’s wife, who looked back at the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, emphasizing Christ’s admonition, “Do not turn back.” Just as Lot’s wife’s desire to return to her homeland led to her condemnation and transformation into a pillar of salt, monastics must not turn back from their spiritual journey. He likened spiritual cultivation to a farmer tilling the land; abandoning the plow before the work is done prevents the completion of the task and acceptance by God. Thus, small and steady steps in the spiritual struggle are required for God to deem one worthy and to ensure a God-pleasing path until the very end.
The Holy Monastery of Agia Paraskevi
The Holy Monastery of Agia Paraskevi in Sgourades is home to a small community of nuns, guided by the Abbess Foteini. The tonsure ceremony marks a significant moment for the monastery and the local Orthodox community, as it welcomes a new member dedicated to monastic life and spiritual devotion.
The event underscores the enduring spiritual traditions within the Orthodox Church and the continuous call to monasticism, drawing individuals from diverse backgrounds to a life of prayer and service to God.
The presence of a nun from the African continent joining the sisterhood highlights the universal appeal of Orthodox spirituality and the diverse tapestry of its faithful.
Source: https://corfutvnews.gr/koura-monachis-stin-kerkyra-2/
