The degrees of Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic monasticism are the stages an
Eastern Orthodox monk or
nun passes through in their religious vocation.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the process of becoming a monk or nun is intentionally slow, as the
monastic vows
Monasticism (from Ancient Greek , , from , , 'alone'), also referred to as monachism, or monkhood, is a religious way of life in which one renounces worldly pursuits to devote oneself fully to spiritual work. Monastic life plays an important role ...
taken are considered to entail a lifelong commitment to
God, and are not to be entered into lightly. After a person completes the
novitiate
The novitiate, also called the noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a Christian ''novice'' (or ''prospective'') monastic, apostolic, or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether ...
, three degrees or steps must be completed in the process of preparation before one may gain the monastic habit.
Orthodox monasticism
Unlike in
Western Christianity, where different
religious orders and societies arose, each with its own profession rites, the Eastern Orthodox Church has only one type of
monasticism
Monasticism (from Ancient Greek , , from , , 'alone'), also referred to as monachism, or monkhood, is a religious way of life in which one renounces worldly pursuits to devote oneself fully to spiritual work. Monastic life plays an important role ...
. The profession of monastics is known as
tonsure (referring to the ritual cutting of the monastic's hair which takes place during the service) and was, at one time, considered to be a
Sacred Mystery (sacrament). The Rite of Tonsure is printed in the ''
Euchologion'' (
Church Slavonic
Church Slavonic (, , literally "Church-Slavonic language"), also known as Church Slavic, New Church Slavonic or New Church Slavic, is the conservative Slavic liturgical language used by the Eastern Orthodox Church in Belarus, Bosnia and Herzeg ...
: ''Trebnik''), as are the other Sacred Mysteries and services performed according to need, such as
funerals,
blessings, and
exorcisms.
The
monastic habit is the same throughout the Eastern Church (with certain slight regional variations), and it is the same for both monks and nuns. Each successive grade is given a portion of the habit, the full habit being worn only by those in the highest grade, known for that reason as the "Great Schema", or "Great Habit". A person may enter any monastery of one's choice; but after being accepted by the abbot (or abbess) and making vows, one may not move from place to place without the blessing of one's ecclesiastical superior. This satisfies the principle of "stability of place", important to monasticism.
One becomes a monk or nun by being tonsured, a rite that only a priest can perform. This is typically done by the
abbot. The priest tonsuring a monk or nun must be tonsured into the same or greater degree of monasticism that he is tonsuring another into. In other words, only a hieromonk who has been tonsured into the Great Schema may himself tonsure a Schemamonk. A
bishop, however, may tonsure into any rank, regardless of his own. On rare occasions, a bishop will allow a priest to tonsure a monk or nun into any rank.
Eastern Orthodox monks are addressed as "Father", as are priests and deacons in the Orthodox Church. When conversing among themselves, monks in some places may address one another as "Brother".
Novices are most often referred to as "Brother", although at some places, e.g., on
Mount Athos
Mount Athos (; el, Ἄθως, ) is a mountain in the distal part of the eponymous Athos peninsula and site of an important centre of Eastern Orthodox monasticism in northeastern Greece. The mountain along with the respective part of the penins ...
, novices are addressed as "Father". Among the Greeks, old monks are often called ''Gheronda'', or "Elder", out of respect for their dedication. In the Slavic tradition, the title of Elder (Church Slavonic: старецъ, ''
Starets'') is normally reserved for those who are of an advanced spiritual life, and who serve as guides for others.
Nuns who have been tonsured to the Stavrophore or higher are addressed as "Mother". Novice and Rassophore nuns are addressed as "Sister". Nuns live ascetic lives that are identical to those of their male counterparts and are therefore also called ''monachai'' (the feminine plural of ''monachos''). Their community is likewise called a monastery.
Monks who have been ordained to the priesthood are called
hieromonks (priest-monks); monks who have been ordained to the
diaconate are called
hierodeacons (deacon-monks). A Schemamonk who is a priest is called a Hieroschemamonk. Most monks are not ordained; a community will normally only present as many candidates for ordination to the bishop as the liturgical needs of the community require. Bishops are required by the
sacred canons of the Orthodox Church to be chosen from among the monastic clergy, who do not marry.
Today, the most important centres of Christian Orthodox monasticism are
Saint Catherine's Monastery
Saint Catherine's Monastery ( ar, دير القدّيسة كاترين; grc-gre, Μονὴ τῆς Ἁγίας Αἰκατερίνης), officially the Sacred Autonomous Royal Monastery of Saint Katherine of the Holy and God-Trodden Mount Sinai, ...
in the
Sinai Peninsula (
Egypt),
Meteora at
Thessaly in
Greece,
Mount Athos
Mount Athos (; el, Ἄθως, ) is a mountain in the distal part of the eponymous Athos peninsula and site of an important centre of Eastern Orthodox monasticism in northeastern Greece. The mountain along with the respective part of the penins ...
in
Greek Macedonia,
Mar Saba
The Holy Lavra of Saint Sabbas, known in Arabic and Syriac as Mar Saba ( syr, ܕܝܪܐ ܕܡܪܝ ܣܒܐ, ar, دير مار سابا; he, מנזר מר סבא; el, Ἱερὰ Λαύρα τοῦ Ὁσίου Σάββα τοῦ Ἡγιασμέ� ...
in the
Bethlehem Governorate of the
West Bank, and the
Monastery of Saint John the Theologian on the island of
Patmos in Greece.
Degrees
Novice
Novice (Greek: δόκιμος, ''dókimos'';
Church Slavonic
Church Slavonic (, , literally "Church-Slavonic language"), also known as Church Slavic, New Church Slavonic or New Church Slavic, is the conservative Slavic liturgical language used by the Eastern Orthodox Church in Belarus, Bosnia and Herzeg ...
: послушникъ, ''poslushnik''), lit. "one under obedience"—Those wishing to join a monastery begin their lives as novices. After the candidate comes to the monastery and lives as a guest for not less than three days, the abbot or abbess may bless the candidate to become a novice. There is no formal ceremony for the clothing of a novice; he or she simply receives permission to wear the clothing of a novice. In the Eastern monastic tradition, novices may or may not dress in the black
inner cassock ( el, Anterion (Αντερίον), Esorason (Εσώρασον); Church Slavonic: ''Podriasnik'') and wear the soft monastic hat (Greek: ''
Skoufos'', Church Slavonic: ''Skufia''), depending on the tradition of the local community, and in accordance with the abbot’s directives. In some communities, the novice also wears the leather belt. Monks are given a
prayer rope and instructed in the use of the
Jesus Prayer.
If a novice chooses to leave during the period of the novitiate, no penalty is incurred. He may also be asked to leave at any time if his behaviour does not conform to the monastic life, or if the superior discerns that he is not called to monasticism. When the abbot or abbess deems the novice ready, he is asked if he wishes to join the monastery. Some, out of humility, will choose to remain novices all their lives. Every stage of the monastic life must be entered into voluntarily.
Rasophore
Rasophore (Greek: ῥασοφόρος, ''rasophoros''; Church Slavonic: рясофоръ, ''ryasofor''), lit. "Robe-bearer"—If the novice continues to become a monk, he is clothed in the first degree of monasticism at a service at which he receives the
tonsure. Although there are no formal
vows
A vow ( Lat. ''votum'', vow, promise; see vote) is a promise or oath.
A vow is used as a promise, a promise solemn rather than casual.
Marriage vows
Marriage vows are binding promises each partner in a couple makes to the other during a weddi ...
made at this point, the candidate is normally required to affirm his commitment to persevere in the monastic life. The abbot performs the tonsure, cutting a small amount of hair from four spots on the head, forming a cross. The novice is given the outer cassock (Greek: ράσον, ''Rasson'', ''Exorasson'', or ''Mandorrason''; Church Slavonic: рясса, ''Riassa''), an outer robe with wide sleeves, from which the name of Rassophore is derived. He is also given a ''
kalimavkion'', a cylindrical brimless hat, which is covered with a veil called an ''
epanokalimavkion''. (These are separate items in the Greek tradition. In the Russian tradition the two are stitched together and collectively called a ''
klobuk
Klobuk of Patriarch Philaret of Moscow (1619-33), Kremlin museum
A klobuk is an item of monastic clothing worn by monks and, in the Russian tradition, also by nuns, in the Byzantine Rite, composed of a kamilavka (stiffened round black headc ...
''.) If the novice has not previously received it, a leather belt is fastened around his waist. His
habit is usually black, signifying that he is now dead to the world, and he receives a new name.
Although the Rassophore does not make formal vows, he is morally obligated to continue in the monastic estate for the rest of his life. Some will remain Rassophores permanently without going on to the higher degrees.
Stavrophore
Stavrophore (Greek: σταυρoφόρος, ''stavrophoros''; Church Slavonic: крестоносецъ, ''krestonosets''), lit. "Cross-bearer"—The next level for Eastern monastics takes place some years after the first tonsure, when the abbot feels the monk has reached an appropriate level of discipline, dedication, and humility. This degree is also known as the ''Little Schema'' or ''Lesser schema'', and is thought of as a "betrothal" to the Great Schema. At this stage, the monk makes formal vows of stability of place, chastity, obedience and poverty.
Then he is tonsured and clothed in the habit, which in addition to that worn by the Rassophore, includes the ''paramandyas'' (Greek: παραμανδυας; Church Slavonic: параманъ, ''paraman''), a piece of square cloth worn on the back, embroidered with the instruments of the
Passion, and connected by ties to a wooden cross worn over the heart. The paramandyas represents the yoke of Christ. Because of this addition, he is now called ''Stavrophore'', or ''Cross-bearer''. He is also given a wooden hand cross (or "profession cross"), which he should keep in his
icon corner, and a beeswax candle, symbolic of monastic vigilance and sacrificing himself for God. At his death, the monk will be buried holding the cross, and the candle will be burned at his funeral. In the Slavic practice, the Stavrophore also wears the monastic
mantle
A mantle is a piece of clothing, a type of cloak. Several other meanings are derived from that.
Mantle may refer to:
*Mantle (clothing), a cloak-like garment worn mainly by women as fashionable outerwear
**Mantle (vesture), an Eastern Orthodox ve ...
, which symbolizes the 40 days of the Lord's fasting on the Mountain of Temptation. ''The rasson'' worn by the Stavrophore is more ample than that worn by the Rassophore.
After the ceremony, the newly tonsured Stavrophore will remain in
vigil
A vigil, from the Latin ''vigilia'' meaning ''wakefulness'' (Greek: ''pannychis'', or ''agrypnia'' ), is a period of purposeful sleeplessness, an occasion for devotional watching, or an observance. The Italian word ''vigilia'' has become genera ...
in the church for five days, refraining from all work, except spiritual reading. In the early 21st century, this vigil is often reduced to three days. The abbot increases the Stavrophore monk’s
prayer rule
Prayer is an invocation or act that seeks to activate a rapport with an object of worship through deliberate communication. In the narrow sense, the term refers to an act of supplication or intercession directed towards a deity or a deified an ...
, allows a more strict, personal ascetic practice, and gives the monk more responsibility.
Great Schema
Great Schema ( el, μεγαλόσχημος, ''megaloschemos''; Church Slavonic: Схима, ''Schima'')—Monks whose abbots feel they have reached a high level of spiritual excellence reach the final stage, called the Great Schema. The tonsure of a ''Schemamonk'' or ''Schemanun'' follows the same format as the Stavrophore, and he makes the same vows and is tonsured in the same manner. But in addition to all the garments worn by the Stavrophore, he is given the ''analavos'' (Church Slavonic: ''analav''), which is the article of monastic vesture emblematic of the Great Schema. The analavos itself is sometimes called the "Great Schema". It drapes over the shoulders and hangs down in front and in back, with the front portion somewhat longer, and is embroidered with the instruments of the Passion and the
Trisagion.
The Greek form does not have a hood, but the Slavic form has a hood and lappets on the shoulders, so that the garment forms a large cross covering the monk's shoulders, chest, and back. Another piece added is the ''Polystavrion'' (Πολυσταύριον, "Many Crosses"), which consists of a cord with a number of small crosses plaited into it. The polystavrion forms a yoke around the monk and serves to hold the analavos in place. It also reminds the monastic that he is bound to Christ and that his arms are no longer fit for worldly activities, but that he must labor only for the
Kingdom of Heaven
Kingdom of Heaven may refer to:
Religious
* Kingdom of Heaven (Gospel of Matthew)
** Kingship and kingdom of God, or simply Kingdom of God, the phrase used in the other gospels
* Kingdom of Heaven (Daviesite), a schismatic sect, founded by Will ...
. Among the Greeks, the mantle is added at this stage. The paramandyas of the Megaloschemos is larger than that of the Stavrophore. If the monk wears the klobuk, it is of a distinctive thimble shape, called a ''
koukoulion
The koukoulion ( Greek: κουκούλιον; Slavonic: ''kukol'') is a traditional headdress worn by monks and certain patriarchs in Eastern Christianity.
History
Related to the western cowl, it was the cap worn by Orthodox monks. It is show ...
'', the veil of which is usually embroidered with crosses.
The Schemamonk shall remain some days in vigil in the church. On the eighth day after Tonsure, there is a special service for the "Removal of the Koukoulion".
In some monastic traditions the Great Schema is never given, or is given to monks and nuns only on their death bed. In others, for instance, the
cenobitic monasteries on
Mount Athos
Mount Athos (; el, Ἄθως, ) is a mountain in the distal part of the eponymous Athos peninsula and site of an important centre of Eastern Orthodox monasticism in northeastern Greece. The mountain along with the respective part of the penins ...
, it is common to tonsure a monastic into the Great Schema 3 years after the candidate commences the monastic life.
In Russian and some other traditions, when a bearer of some monastic title acquires the Great Schema, his title incorporates the word "schema". For example, a
hieromonk of Great Schema is called hieroschemamonk,
archimandrite becomes schema-archimandrite,
hegumen - schema-hegumen, etc. In the Russian Orthodox tradition, in such cases the part "schema" is commonly truncated to "схи" (''sche''), and correspondingly the titles are spelt as схимонах (''schemonach''), иеросхимонах (''ieroschemonach''), схиархимандрит (''schearchimandrit''), and схиигумен (''scheigumen'').
Symbolism on Analavos
Repeated symbols are commonly used on the analavos, the distinctive garment worn by monks that have reached the Great Schema to reference religious imagery, biblical stories, lessons and devotion to Christ.
Symbols include: a rooster representing the
denial of Peter. A pillar for the column that
Pontius Pilate bound Christ to, the wreath for the
crown of thorns, the uprate post and transverse beam represent the
patibulum. Four spikes for the nails of the cross. The skull and crossbones represents the
Adamah
Adamah (Biblical Hebrew : אדמה) is a word, translatable as ground or earth, which occurs in the Genesis creation narrative. The etymological link between the word ''adamah'' and the word ''adam'' is used to reinforce the teleological link b ...
, or the returning to the ground at death of Adam and all humankind. The plaque represents the initialism
Jesus, King of the Jews. The reed for the
Holy Sponge, the
Holy Lance
The Holy Lance, also known as the Lance of Longinus (named after Saint Longinus), the Spear of Destiny, or the Holy Spear, is the lance that pierced the side of Jesus as he hung on the cross during his crucifixion.
Biblical references
The l ...
. Ladders and pincers under the base for
Joseph of Arimathea lowering the body and descending Christ. The central object is often the cross of Christ.
Coptic Orthodox monastic degrees
In the
Coptic Church, there are only two degrees of professed monks. These correspond to the Rassaphore combined with the Stavrophore, and the Great Schema (nothing equivalent to separate Stavrophore status in the Coptic tradition).
The two rites of Rasaphore and Stavrophore are served one immediately following the other, as a single service. In the 21st century, they are usually not separated by several years between attainment of these degrees. When the two rites are separated, the portions of the habit that were given in the previous rite are not given a second time in the latter rite.
The Great Schema is made of a leather cord twisted in design and has five to seven small crosses along its length. It is worn crosswise around the neck, flowing down cross wise front and back. It is usually granted to bishops either upon their episcopal consecration or shortly afterwards. It is also usually granted to a monk who has reached a high degree of asceticism or has been living as a
hermit. It may also be granted to the monks, hieromonks, and abbots who have been in the monastic life for more than 30 years, and have been living exemplary monastic lives.
See also
*
Acoemetae
*
Christian monasticism
*
Monastery of Stoudios
References
External links
History of monasticism in Russiaa portion of the Tonsure service
Tonsure of a SchemanunNovo-Tikhvin Monastery,
Ekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg ( ; rus, Екатеринбург, p=jɪkətʲɪrʲɪnˈburk), alternatively romanized as Ekaterinburg and formerly known as Sverdlovsk ( rus, Свердло́вск, , svʲɪrˈdlofsk, 1924–1991), is a city and the administrat ...
, Russia
Great Angelic SchemaRussian Orthodox (
Moscow Patriarchate
, native_name_lang = ru
, image = Moscow July 2011-7a.jpg
, imagewidth =
, alt =
, caption = Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, Russia
, abbreviation = ROC
, type ...
)
ParamanRussian Orthodox (Photo)
Skufia for Schemamonk(Photo)
(Photo)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Degrees Of Eastern Orthodox Monasticism
Christian monasticism
Asceticism
Hesychasm
Eastern Orthodox liturgy
Russian Orthodox monks