Some deeply religious people often choose the path of monasticism. However, becoming a monk is not so easy - for this you need to go through a series of certain steps, at the top of which is the status of a schema-monk.
Schema and its adoption
A schema in Orthodoxy is the highest monastic degree, which requires a monk who accepts it to comply with harsh ascetic conditions. Initially, the schema was a monastic vestment of a special type, but over time, this word began to refer to the solemn oath of a monk ready for asceticism. When tonsured as novices, a person is obliged to renounce everything worldly, changing his name, taking a vow of a schema monk and putting on the clothes of a monk - schema.
By accepting the schema, the monk completely changes his lifestyle to monastic life and finally devotes himself to God.
Traditionally, Orthodox monasticism consists of four degrees - the robe, the initial degree of monasticism, the minor schema and the great schema. Initially, the novice is not required to take any vows - unlike the minor schema, when the future monk must bring vows of obedience, virginity and non-covetousness, and also change his name. The Great Schema consists in taking a vow of constant prayer and the next change in the name of the monk, who with each change of name acquires a new heavenly patron.
Features of the acceptance of the schema
A monk who accepts the great schema completely alienates himself from the bustle of the world, embarking on a constant prayer designed to reunite his soul with God. Such people are called schema-monks or schema-monks. In essence, the great schema repeats all the basic vows of the lesser schema, but at the same time it obliges the monk to observe these vows even more strictly and unswervingly.
In ancient times, the schema-monks made another additional vow - to shut themselves up in a cave and renounce the mortal world forever, being left alone with God.
Velikoskhimniki of the Russian Orthodox Church usually live separately from other monks and perform only those obediences that relate to clergy, the prayer rule and the service of the liturgy. The bishop, who has accepted the schema, loses the opportunity to govern the diocese, and the monks-priests are released from all duties, except for constant prayer. If the schema monk does not have the opportunity to lead an ascetic lifestyle in a cave or desert, he settles as a hermit in a cenobitic monastery.
Today, the shutter was no longer obligatory for the schema monks who observe the rules of asceticism in hermitage - they voluntarily accepted the great schema, which finally devoted themselves to the Lord and their service to him.
