The term "abbot" belongs to Western culture, but thanks to literary translations, it is well known in Russia as well. Usually, it is understood as a certain clergyman who occupies a certain step in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. But exactly what place does the abbot occupy in it? This is a difficult question for most of our compatriots. Let's try to deal with him.
Origin of the term
First of all, let's solve the problem with etymology. Here, in fact, everything is simple. The word "abbot" is a Latinized form of the Aramaic word "abba", which means "father".
The appearance of the term in the context of Christian culture
The first mention of this word is found already in the Bible. For example, Jesus spoke to God. His example was followed by the disciples around him, and then by the followers of the new religion who were converted by them. Gradually, this word became an informal respectful appeal to a spiritual mentor, predominantly of a monastic lifestyle. By the 5th century, it was in this vein that itfirmly entrenched in the Christian lexicon of Egypt, Palestine and other countries where the monastic movement flourished.
Term formalization
After the reform of monasticism initiated by the state authorities, many traditions either disappeared or turned from an informal tradition into a rank enshrined in the canon. Thus, starting from the 5th century, in Europe, the word "abbot" began to refer exclusively to the abbots of monastic communities. Later, when an extensive system of orders was formed, the title of abbot was preserved only in the tradition of the Benedictines, Cluniacs and Cistercians. And such orders as the Augustinians, Dominicans and Carmelites began to call their leaders priors. As for the Franciscans, the title of their abbot is guardian.
Hierarchy within abbots
As you know, there is a certain gradation within the abbey community, so to speak. For example, the abbot of a provincial affiliated order monastery or the abbot of the metochion occupied a lower level than the head of the entire order or a large monastic center. Therefore, those of them who held the most significant posts could be called archabbots. So, for example, the general superiors of Cluny were called. Another variant of a similar regalia is the abbot of abbots. In the Middle Ages, the role of these people was very high, not only in church, but also in political terms. In part, this led to the fact that the abbots of many central monasteries began to be ordained as bishops and were, in fact, the heads of dioceses, and not just monasteries.
Whobecame an abbot
If we talk about the beginning of the Christian era, then the honorary title of leader was awarded to the most advanced in spiritual practice and authoritative monks who earned their reputation as a way of life. Over time, the situation has changed dramatically. In medieval Europe, as a rule, only a person from a noble family could become an abbot. In fact, this role went to the second and third sons, who were trained for this ministry from childhood. In spirit, it was more secular, and sincere monastic zeal and spiritual charisma were by no means required from a person. In extreme cases, as was the case, for example, in France, the abbots could generally use the monastery only as a source of income, but not live in it and not engage in any real management of it, delegating authority to their governors. In addition, there was a layer of purely secular abbots who received monasteries as a reward from state power. They were persons of noble origin, had no clergy and did not take monastic vows. However, having power over the abbeys, they also carried the formal title of abbot.
As far as France is concerned, the abbot there is a monk who, after a period of seclusion, returned to secular life. In other words, this was the term used in the jargon for the stripping.
Abbates in other denominations
Abbot is, as we have already found out, the official title in the Catholic Church. In Eastern Christianity, where Greek is used more than Latin, the closest analogue is the word "abba". itthe same Aramaic root, but not in the Latin, but in the Greek interpretation. However, in Orthodoxy, this is still an unofficial appeal to authoritative spiritual mentors from among the monastics.
An Orthodox abbot in a purely Western sense of the word can only exist if the monastery adheres to the Western liturgical tradition. There are few such institutions of the Latin Rite in Orthodoxy, but they exist and consist mainly of former Catholics and Protestants.
Abbates can also be in the monastic associations of the Anglican Church, which, after deviating from Catholicism to Protestantism, still managed to maintain monasticism. In other Protestant countries, the heads of secular institutions, which were located within the walls of former monasteries, were sometimes called abbots.
