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Hi, Everybody.

I'm confused about the different styles of monasticism. Here is what I understand so far; please correct me if I am wrong.



"Cenobitic": A group of monks, living together as a community and holding all property in common, under an abbot.

"Semi-cenobitic": Small groups of monks (less than a dozen?) who live by themselves most of the time but who come together for group prayer and who have few material possessions.

"Idiorrhythmic": Like semi-cenobitic monks, but they can own property and have a personal income.

"Eremitic": a religious hermit.





Would someone be so kind as to clarify the different styles of monasticism for me?

Many thanks.

-- John

And, while I am at it, could someone clarify for me the difference between a lavra, a skete and a poustina? Are they (respectively) cenobitic, semi-cenobitic and eremitic monasticism in the Eastern Church? Many thanks.

-- John

And there is still the anchorites... What's the difference?

You are correct on the first three. I wold lke to add to the last one. There are many who will say that the idiorhymic style is an abberation or a laxity of the cenobitic life. Many of the monasteries on Mt Athos had become idiorhymic around the 14th century, but in modern times they have returned to being cenobitic. I only know this from reading as women are not allowed on the Holy Mountain.
nun Alexandra

[quote=harmon3110]And, while I am at it, could someone clarify for me the difference between a lavra, a skete and a poustina? Are they (respectively) cenobitic, semi-cenobitic and eremitic monasticism in the Eastern Church? Many thanks.

-- John [/quote]

The word lavra means "lane" or "passage." In primitive monasticism, lavras referred to groups of dwellings, caves, or cells. Today it similarly refers to many monks or nuns living in dwellings or cells close to each other.

Skete comes from a Greek word meaning "the place of ascesis."

Poustinia is a hut or cabin where one can be alone with God.

All three of these could be incorporated into a monastc commnities that are cenobitic, eremitic, or semi eremitic. Most cenobitic communities have a poustinia or a hermitage where a monk or a nun can be totally alone with God on retreat.

nun alexandra

[quote=Philippe Gebara]And there is still the anchorites... What's the difference? [/quote]

The word anchorite comes from a Greek word "to withdraw" and refers to a person who has withdrawn from the world to be alone with God - a hermit.

Hope this helps.
prayers
nn alexandra

Thank you, Nun Alexandra!

In relatively recent Orthodox nomenclature, a "lavra" is a large monastery of major importance, such as the Kyiv-Caves Lavra, the Holy-Trinity - Saint Sergius Lavra, and Great Lavra on Mount Athos. In Imperial Russia, the title "Lavra" was bestowed by the Tsar.

It is possible that the Russian Orthodox Church might give the rank of "Lavra" to the Holy Trinity Monastery at Jordanville, since it is by far the most important Orthodox monastery in the diaspora.

Fr. Serge