Monasticism - (from Greek monachos, derived from monos, "alone") or MONKHOOD is a religious way of life that involves renouncing

worldly pursuits to fully devote one's self to spiritual work. Males pursuing a monastic life are generally called monks while female monastics are called nuns. Christian Monasticism: Monastic life plays an important role in many Christian churches, especially in the Catholic and Orthodox tradition. The way of addressing monastics differs between the Christian traditions. For a general rule, in Roman Catholicism, monks and nuns are called brother or sister, while in Orthodox Christianity, they are called father or mother. This is not an absolute rule as their address varies depending on their rank and monastic tradition. Monasticism in Christianity, which provides the origins of the words "monk" and "monastery", comprises several diverse forms of religious living. It began to develop early in the history of the Church, but is not mandated as an institution in the scriptures. It has come to be regulated by religious rules and, in modern times, the Church law of the respective apostolic Christian churches that have forms of monastic living. The Christian monk embraces the monastic life as a vocation for God. His goal is to attain eternal life in his presence. The rules of monastic life are codified in the "counsels of perfection". History of Christian Monasticism: It begun in Syria, then in Egypt. Saint Anthony the Great is cited by Athanasius as one of these early "Hermit monks". Especially in the Middle East, eremitic monasticism continued to be common until the decline of Syriac Christianity in the late Middle Ages. he need for some form of organized spiritual guidance was obvious; and around 318 Saint Pachomius started to organize his many followers in what was to become the first Christian cenobitic or communal monastery. Soon, similar institutions were established throughout the Egyptian desert as well as the rest of the eastern half of the Roman Empire. Historical Monasteries of the East: -Monastery of Saint Anthony, one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world. - Mar Awgin founded a monastery on Mt. Izla above Nisibis in Mesopotamia (~350), and from this monastery the cenobitic tradition spread in Mesopotamia, Persia, Armenia, Georgia and even India and China. - St. Sabbas the Sanctified organized the monks of the Judean Desert in a monastery close to Bethlehem (483), now known as Mar Saba, which is considered the mother of all monasteries of the Eastern Orthodox churches Famous Personalities and Monasterical Orders: -The Rule of Basil is divided into two parts: the "Greater Monastic Rules" and the "Lesser Rules".

St. Basil drew up his Asketikon for the members of the monastery he founded about 356 on the banks of the Iris River in Cappadocia. St Basil's claim to the authorship of the Rules and other ascetical writings that go under his name has been questioned. But the tendency now is to recognize as his at any rate the two sets of Rules. Probably the truest idea of his monastic system may be derived from a correspondence between him and St. Gregory Nazianzen at the beginning of his monastic life. *** When Basil formed his monastery in the neighborhood of Neocaesarea in Pontus, he deliberately set himself against these tendencies. He declared that the cenobitical life is superior to the eremitical; that fasting and austerities should not interfere with prayer or work; that work should form an integral part of the monastic life, not merely as an occupation, but for its own sake and in order to do good to others; and therefore that monasteries should be near towns. All this was a new departure in monachism. - The Rule of Saint Benedict is a book of precepts written by St. Benedict of Nursia (c.480547) for monks living communally under the authority of an abbot. Since about the 7th century it has also been adopted by communities of women. During the 1500 years of its existence, it has become the leading guide in Western Christianity for monastic living in community. *** The spirit of St. Benedict's Rule is summed up in the motto of the Benedictine Confederation: pax ("peace") and the traditional ora et labora ("pray and work"). Benedict's concerns were the needs of monks in a community environment: namely, to establish due order, to foster an understanding of the relational nature of human beings, and to provide a spiritual father to support and strengthen the individual's ascetic effort and the spiritual growth that is required for the fulfillment of the human vocation, theosis. The Rule of Saint Benedict has been used by Benedictines for fifteen centuries, and thus St. Benedict is sometimes regarded as the founder of Western monasticism Definition of Terms: Asceticism ("exercise" or "training") describes a lifestyle characterised by abstinence from various worldly pleasures, often with the aim of pursuing religious and spiritual goals. Theosis literally means to become more divine, more like God, and/or take upon a divine nature. Monastic Living is also known as Monkhood. Eremitic or Hermitic is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society. In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction Cenobitic (or coenobitic) monasticism is a monastic tradition that stresses community life.