The abbot of a monastery is a person who has devoted himself entirely to serving God and his community. It is difficult to describe in words all the hardships and duties that fall on the shoulders of a monk who has assumed this position. Nevertheless, they never lose heart, because all their work is aimed at saving as many souls as possible - to bring them out of the darkness of this mortal world.
So, who is the abbot of the monastery? What are his responsibilities? And how big is the difference between the clergy of the Orthodox and Catholic faiths?
The appearance of the first monasteries
After the ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven, his followers dispersed throughout the world with a single mission - to carry the word of God. Years passed, the power changed faster than the wind in the field, and with it the attitude towards Christians. Either they were driven from everywhere, then they were received as dear guests. And yet, eventually, much of Europe accepted the new doctrine, allowing Christians to preach without fear.
However, many believers were embarrassed by the debauchery and godlessness that reigned in the cities. Therefore, they decided to leave them and live away from worldly fuss. So at the beginning of the IV century in Europethe first Christian monasteries appeared.
Naturally, such a structure required someone to manage it. Therefore, it is not surprising that such a position as the abbot of the monastery appeared. Initially, among Catholics, this rank had a different name (abbot), and the Pope or the bishop consecrated him. This first happened around the 6th century.
Catholic monasteries
Over the years, the role of monasteries in the Catholic world has changed dramatically. From an ordinary monastery of monks, they turned into important administrative units. It also happened that the abbot of the monastery could manage all the lands that were part of his inheritance. Such power was the envy of many representatives of the local nobility, and therefore they tried with all their might to seat their man there.
It even got to the point that the royal families themselves appointed abbots. In particular, this practice took place during the reign of the Carolingian dynasty from the 7th to the 10th century. However, over the years, the Catholic Church regained power, which allowed the re-appointment of the abbots of the monasteries at their discretion.
Abbot of a monastery in Kievan Rus
For Kievan Rus, 988 was a great year - it was then that Prince Vladimir baptized his people. A few years later, the first monasteries appeared, serving as a haven for all those who wanted to devote themselves to God.
What was the difference between the abbot of a monastery in Kievan Rus and his colleague from the Catholic Church? First of all, we note: the Orthodox system, borrowed from Byzantium,did not provide for the presence of a system of orders and holy warriors. Russian monks were simple believers leading an ascetic lifestyle.
Therefore, the main task of the abbot of such a monastery was to maintain the moral and material condition of the monastery. That is, spiritually, he followed how the monks performed their duties (whether they observe fasting or the sacrament of prayer), and so on. As for the material side of the issue, the abbot of the monastery had to keep track of expenses, monitor the condition of buildings, stock up on supplies, and, if necessary, negotiate assistance with the synod or the local prince.
Modern hierarchy in Orthodox monasteries
And although many centuries have passed since the founding of the first monastery, their role in the spiritual enlightenment of believers has remained unchanged. Therefore, it would be very appropriate to talk about who the abbot of an Orthodox monastery is today.
Now the priests who run the temple or monastery are called abbots. This is a very honorary rank, and it can be received only with the consent of the supreme clergyman who manages the diocese to which the monastery belongs. If the abbot proves himself to be a wise ruler and shows his faith, then over time he will be given a higher title - archimandrite.
But the abbot of the monastery can be a priest of a higher rank. Moreover, the management of the laurel is often placed on the shoulders of the ruling diocese or even the patriarch. For example, the Trinity-Sergius Lavra is located underpatronage of the Holy Archimandrite Kirill.
Duties of the abbot of the monastery
Today, the duties of the abbot of the monastery, like hundreds of years ago, are very extensive. Both the spiritual and material problems of his wards fall on him. In particular, the abbot of the monastery performs the following tasks:
- conducts the rite of passage to the monks;
- monitoring the observance of the rules established in the temple;
- controls the life of the monks - sends them to work, reminds them of the upcoming fast, keeps cleanliness and so on;
- conducts worship in his church;
- deals with legal issues (signing contracts, paying bills, keeping the seal of the temple);
- appoints monks to various positions required by the monastery.
In the end, it should be noted that the duties performed by the abbot of the male monastery are slightly different from those that fall on the shoulders of the manager of the convent. In particular, abbesses do not conduct sacred rites, since in the Christian faith a woman cannot be a priest.
