Orthodox monasteries have always been considered a stronghold of Christian piety. Many modern monastic communities have a whole complex consisting of several temples and monastic buildings. Each monastery has its own abbot.
The rectors of Orthodox monasteries are honored and experienced abbots or archimandrites. These ministers have a spiritual experience in teaching. Abbots and archimandrites are priests who at one time took upon themselves the monastic tonsure. The abbot of a monastery is considered the head of a particular monastic community.
The abbots of the monasteries are elected at the discretion of the ruling bishop of the diocese (church region) in whose jurisdiction the monastic community is located. Sometimes a hieromonk can become the steward of an Orthodox monastery. However, upon assuming office, the hieromonk is automatically given the rank of abbot. For the length of service, the abbot has already become an archimandrite.
In Christianity there are also women's monasteries, which do not remain without their steward. The abbess are considered the abbess of women's communities. The abbess holds an administrative position, she can elect the charter of the monastic community at her discretion. However, the abbess does not take part in the priesthood, because a woman cannot be an Orthodox priest. Male priests, called hieromonks or abbots, serve in women's monasteries (in this case, the position of abbot was given to a hieromonk for merit or length of service). The abbess does not accept the sacrament of ordination to the priesthood. In Orthodoxy, there is a separate rite of ordination to the abbess. These positions are appointed by the bishop of the diocese.
In addition, the ruling bishops of the diocese or even the patriarch himself can be considered the abbots of some especially large monasteries (laurels). Monasteries in which the head of the Russian Orthodox Church is considered the chief abbot are called stauropegic. That is why the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia can be called a sacred archimandrite. For example, in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, Patriarch Kirill is the holy archimandrite.
From the history of the founding of some monasteries, it is known that the first abbots of monastic monasteries were holy people. For example, Sergius of Radonezh, Theodosius of Kiev-Pechersk, the Monk Savva the Sanctified and many others.
