In various films, characters tired of life often say the phrase "That's it, I'm leaving for a monastery!" What is a monastery and why do people change their habitual way of life for a monastic life?
The word “monastery” is of Greek origin and is translated as “community of monks”. A monastery is a complex of buildings in which people who have taken monastic vows live on a permanent basis. In addition to monks and novices, pilgrims can live in many monasteries for several days.
The first monasteries appeared in Palestine and Egypt in the 4th century, quickly spreading throughout the world. In our country, the first monastery appeared in the 11th century. We are talking about the famous Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, which functions to this day. Lavra is a large monastery.
Monasteries are female, male and mixed. Life in the monastery proceeds according to the strictest rules, under the guidance of a spiritual abbot. First of all, those who wish to spend their whole life in a monastery must take monasticism or a monastic vow. The monastic vow consists in renouncing all the benefits of civilization, in condemning oneself to celibacy and, accordingly, to childlessness. The meaning of a monk's life is to serve God, in educational activities.
But before such a responsible step, a person who entered the monastery must be a novice for some time, then a half monk. During this period, he can leave the monastery at any time. Novices are allowed to work and pray, read spiritual literature. Each novice is assigned a spiritual mentor who is obliged to prevent the novice's frivolous, reckless decisions.
The monasteries are financed from public and private sources. In addition, almost every monastery is self-supporting. In monastic cloisters there are vegetable gardens, orchards, cattle yards, which daily provide food to the monks. Moreover, food in monasteries is rather meager, and all fasts must be observed in full. But those who decide to devote themselves to the service of God are not afraid of such restrictions. After all, monks by vocation make a choice in favor of spiritual, not material life.
