|
A monk is a person who practices monasticism, adopting a strict religious and ascetic lifestyle, usually in community with others following the same path. The word comes from the Greek monachos (μοναχός), commonly translated as a solitary person and can apply to either men or women. made it myself This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ...
made it myself This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ...
Monasticism (from Greek: monachos—a solitary person) is the religious practice of renouncing all worldly pursuits in order to fully devote ones life to spiritual work. ...
This article is in need of attention. ...
This article concerns how a man differs from women. ...
Image of a woman on the Pioneer plaque sent to outer space. ...
It should be noted, however, that monachos is a word that had to be forged especially to name the then new phenomenon of men living solitarily in the Egyptian desert. The phenomenon came to an abrupt rise in the 3rd century AD, when thousands of Egyptians, mostly men, set out to the deserts of Nitria, southwest of the city of Alexandria, in order to imitate the life of St. Anthony, the first Christian monk. A dune in the Egyptian desert Desert in California In geography, a desert is a landscape form or region that receives little precipitation. ...
(2nd century - 3rd century - 4th century - other centuries) Events The Sassanid dynasty of Persia launches a war to reconquer lost lands in the Roman east. ...
Great Moravia (Czech Velká Morava, Slovak Veľká Morava, Latin Magna Moravia) was a Slav state existing on the territory of present-day Moravia and Slovakia between 833 and the early 10th century. ...
Antiquity and modernity stand cheek-by-jowl in Egypts chief Mediterranean seaport Located on the Mediterranean Sea coast, Alexandria (in Arabic, الإسكندرية — al-Iskandariyah) is the chief seaport in Egypt, and that countrys second largest city, and the capital of the Al Iskandariyah governate. ...
Saint Anthony the Great, Father of all Monks Saint Anthony the Great (251 - 356), Christian saint, also known as Saint Anthony of Egypt, Saint Anthony of the Desert, Saint Anthony the Anchorite, and The Father of All Monks was a leader among the Desert Fathers, who were Christian monks in...
The term Christian means belonging to Christ and is derived from the Greek noun Χριστός Khristós which means anointed one, which is itself a translation of the Hebrew word Moshiach (Hebrew: משיח, also written Messiah), (and in Arabic it is pronounced Maseeh مسيح). ...
Monks usually live in a monastery following a single rule and governed by an abbot. Monasteries can be organized as Cenobiums, where all live together, pray together, and share everything; or they can be more disjointed with the monks only coming together for Sunday services. A monk who lives alone, away from society and sometimes also from all other monks, is called an Anchorite or Hesicaste (also called a hermit). Buddhist monastery near Tibet A monastery is the habitation of monks. ...
Abbots coat of arms An abbot (from the Hebrew ab, a father, through the Syriac abba, Latin abbas (genitive form, abbatis), Old English abbad, ; German Abt; French abbé) is the head and chief governor of a community of monks, called also in the East hegumenos or The English version...
A hermit (from the Greek for solitary) is a person who retires from society and lives in solitude; a recluse; an anchorite or anchoress; especially, one who so lives from religious motives. ...
The female ascetic is usually called a nun and her residence, a convent. In the West, the word nunk has been coined by Catholic theologian Raimundo Panikkar to refer to a female renunciate leading the contemplative life of a monk. In general, a nun is a female ascetic who chooses to voluntarily leave the world and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent. ...
This article is about an abbey as a religious building. ...
Theology is literally rational discourse concerning God (Greek θεος, theos, God, + λογος, logos, rational discourse). By extension, it also refers to the study of other religious topics. ...
Roman Catholic monks
In the Roman Catholic Church the process of becoming a monk is marked by several distinct stages, which may vary depending on the particular tradition, order, or monastery. A person requesting admission is known as a postulant. After a period of examination, during which they may live in the monastery without actually taking vows, they may be admitted as a novice. The novitiate may last for a number of years and include instruction in prayer and other subjects. After the novitiate, a monastic may pass through a series of temporary vows of increasing length (typically three to five years). Catholic monks call each other Brother unless ordained to the priesthood. The Roman Catholic Church is the largest religious denomination of Christianity with over one billion members. ...
A religious order is an organization of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with religious devotion. ...
A Postulant (from the Latin postulare, to ask) was originally one who makes a request or demand; hence, a candidate. ...
A vow (Lat. ...
For the city in Texas, see Novice, Texas. ...
Prayer is an effort to communicate with God, or to some deity or deities, either to offer praise to the deity, to make a request of the deity, or simply to express ones thoughts and emotions to the deity. ...
Female monastics (nuns) in the Catholic church are called Sister, except for their superior, who is called Mother. The duties of a nun usually lie in the areas of religious education, nursing or charitable service. In general, a nun is a female ascetic who chooses to voluntarily leave the world and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent. ...
For Roman Catholics, Monasticism is essentially a lay vocation, and monks and nuns are not generally members of the clergy. However, since worship is a major part of the monastic life, there is a need for some monastics to be ordained. In several Western orders, there is a distincion between the choir monks (those who are or may become priests) and the lay brothers (who are occupied solely with manual labour and with the secular affairs of the monastery). In religious organizations , the laity comprises all lay persons, i. ...
A vocation is an occupation, either professional or voluntary, that is seen more to those who carry it out than simply financial reward. ...
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. ...
Worship usually refers to specific acts of religious praise, honour, or devotion, typically directed to a supernatural being such as a god or goddess. ...
For other uses, see Monk (disambiguation). ...
Roman Catholic priest LCDR Allen R. Kuss (USN) aboard USS Enterprise A priest or priestess is a holy man or woman who takes an officiating role in worship of any religion, with the distinguishing characteristic of offering sacrifices. ...
Lay brothers are Catholic religious occupied solely with manual labour and with the secular affairs of a monastery or friary. ...
This article concerns secularity, that is, being secular, in various senses. ...
Eastern Orthodox Monks at prayer in their monastery church. Eastern Orthodox Monks standing in their monastery church File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...
Eastern Orthodox Monks standing in their monastery church File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...
Eastern Orthodox monks In the Eastern Orthodoxy, novices may or may not dress in the black inner robe (Isorassa or Ryassa) and wear the soft monastic hat (Skoufos), this being dependent on the abbot’s wishes. The isorassa and the skoufos are the first part of the monastic "habit" of which there is only one style for Orthodox monastics (this is true in general, there have been a few slight regional variations over the centuries). ...
Orthodox monastics, in general have little or no contact with the outside world, especially family. If a novice chooses to leave during the novitiate period no penalty is incurred. When the abbot deems the novice ready, the novice is asked to join the monastery. If he accepts he is tonsured in a formal service. He is given the outer robe (Exorassa), the hard monastic hat (Kalimovkion or Kamilavka) and the veil, which drapes over the hat (See Picture). He also wears a leather belt around his waist. His habit is usually black signifying that he is now dead to the world, and he receives a new name. He is now formally known as a Rassophor (or Ryassophor). Tonsure is the practice of some Christian churches of cutting the hair from the scalp of clerics as a symbol of their renunciation of worldly fashion and esteem. ...
The next level for monastics takes place some years after the first tonsure when the abbot feels the monk has reached a level of discipline, dedication, and humility. Once again, in a formal service the monk is elevated to the Schema, which is signified by the addition of certain symbolic pieces to his habit. One of those pieces added is the Polystavrion or "Many Crosses". Because of this addition he is now called Stavrophor. In addition, the abbot increases the monk’s prayer rule, allows a more strict personal ascetic practice, and gives the monk more responsibility.
Monks whose abbot feels they have reached a high level of excellence reach the final stage, called Megaloschemos or Great Schema. In some monastic traditions the Great Schema is only given to monks and nuns on their death bed, while in others they may be elevated after as little as 25 years of service. Eastern Orthodox monks (except novices) are always called Father even if they are not priests. Old monks are often called Gheronda or Elder out of respect for their dedication.
Clergy are often trained in monasteries (though some seminaries do exist). Bishops are almost always chosen from the monastic ranks for their outstanding qualities, the idea being that power and authority are given to people who don't want it (Monks). Monks as members of the clergy are called hieromonks (priest-monk).
For the Orthodox, Mother is the correct term for all nuns except novices. Nuns live identical ascetic lives to their male counterparts and are therefore also called monachoi, and their common living space, a monastery.
External links - A synopsis of Orthodox monasticism (http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/Orthodox-Faith/Worship/Monasticism.html)
See also |
Feeds |
Contact