www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology different kinds of monasticism

It is my understanding that there are no religious orders in Eastern Orthodox monasticism. But are there different ways of monastic life? Are there other ways besides the Athonite way?

Dear Orthodox Dutchman,

Father Gregory, who posts here, is an Orthodox monk. Hopefully he will answer here, (or you could pm him).

I don't know if the Antiochan church in the U.S. has monasteries, but the Greek church has many here, set up by a Father Ephraim of Mt. Athos.

In Christ,
Alice

Dear Orthodox Dutchman, the three generally accepted "styles" of Orthodox monasticism are cenobitic, eremitic, and idiorrythmic. But these are general types of monastic life and not "orders" as you have them in the Roman Catholic Church.

Each monastery rather has its own rule or monastic Typikon. These are nearly always along the tradition of the Long Rules of St. Basil the Great, the Typikons of the Studion in Constantinople, St. Sabas, St. Catherine's on Mt. Sinai, etc.

Cenobitic is a fully communal life, like the Studion in Constantinople, St. Pachomius in Eqypt or in the west the Rule of St. Benedict; eremitic the life of hermits, and idiorrythmic is a "middle way" where the monks may live in a much looser community, often called sketes, much on their own doing manual work, etc. to support themselves and the monastery but gathering occasionally for services, voting for a hegumen, etc.

Usually one does not become a hermit without many years of labor in a cenobitic community or idiorrythmic skete, and only after receiving a blessing from the abbot to live as a hermit. Generally one does not live as a hermit until after receiving the great schema.

You can find all three styles of monasticism still alive on Mt. Athos.

Do many Christian hermits live in North America?

Hi,
Holy Resurrection Monastery in California is one

I found these when I did a search on here and found this discussion.

https://www.byzcath.org/cgibin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=001906#000000

I don't know about Eastern Orthodox or Eastern Rite hermits specifically, but if you visit this site and scroll down to "Hermatiges" you might find other links
http://newglastonbury.org/resources_%26_links.htm
This site also discusses ermetical life:
http://www.op.org/ravensbread/
Apparently ermetical life is enjoying a ressurgence in some churches.

When I lived on the West Coast, I used to visit the Trappist Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Oregon. One of the monks there had permission to be a hermit. I once was a postulant in the Camaldolese. Many religious orders in the Western Church now have given their members permission to live as hermits, even for a shor time. (The Carmelites and Passionists now have hermitages in W. PA.). I read an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer a couple of years ago where a layman was invested by Card. Bevilaqua as a "lay hermit". Interesting.

Dear Mike,

My old parish supports an anchoress - a former RC nun, she became a member of the UGCC and studied under our parish priest until her day of installation as an anchoress/solitary.

Alex