Probably, each of us at least once saw a monk (or a nun), encountered them in temples or in everyday life. Statistics show that a survey of several people on the topic "Why and how do female and male representatives go to the monastery" collected the vast majority of typical answers.
The absolute majority believes that young nuns or monks are victims of unrequited, unrequited love, who have not found any other shelter for their lonely soul, except for the monastery. And middle-aged women and men did not have a family life or a professional career. Is it really so? Let's find out.
So, the general opinion about this situation is that people who have not found themselves in this life, or simply weak in spirit, become nuns (and monks). The monks themselves do not agree with such meager philistine opinion. They explain and tell how they go to the monastery in a completely different way! Let's find out the real truth!
I want to go to a monastery, but my conscience does not allow…
People of completely different ages and social status come to the monastery. It can be poor old people,
mature women or just young and intelligent people. The reason for this is the most common human desire to repent, to devote one's life to the Lord, as well as an uncontrollable desire for self-improvement. Notice the difference - not losers go to the monastery, but determined and energetic people! Indeed, in order to live in the conditions of monasticism, you need to be a courageous and determined person.
How do people go to the monastery?
To become a monk, a person needs to make certain vows before the Lord God. This is a pretty serious step, and there is simply no way back! Therefore, there is a variant of a kind of "insurance". So that a person does not make the main mistake of his life, succumbing to certain feelings, he is experienced for a long time. This happens by assigning him one or another monastic degree.
- Employee. This is the very first rank. It is assigned to a person who decided to go to a monastery for a while, to work for the Glory of God - not for money, for free. Such a person assumes no obligations and can always return to the world.
- Acolyte. This is the second rank. They are awarded to a person who wishes to become a monk, who has written an application for admission to the brethren. He is enrolled, given a cassock andestablish a trial period.
- Monk. This is the last and irreversible rank. At this stage, a person is required to make vows. There is no way back. The betrayal of these vows has equal force to the betrayal of the Almighty! If a person who has known how one goes to a monastery suddenly betrays his vows, he becomes a defamationist. Such people were not even buried in cemeteries before! The funeral was arranged behind the fence, as for suicides.
The term is not limited by anything. Some may be tonsured as monks earlier, others later. It all depends on the inner readiness of the person himself. Usually this period lasts several years. In this case, the novice can return to the world. This is neither condemned nor encouraged.
