View source for Degrees of Eastern Orthodox monasticism

{{Short description|Stages an Eastern Orthodox monk or nun passes through in their religious vocation}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2021}}
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The '''degrees of Eastern Orthodox 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]] taken are considered to entail a lifelong commitment to [[God]], and are not to be entered into lightly. After a person completes the [[novitiate]], three degrees or steps must be completed in the process of preparation before one may gain the monastic habit.
The same monastic degrees and titles used in the Eastern Orthodox Church are used in the [[Byzantine rite]] [[Catholic Church|Catholic Churches]]. Some of these Catholic monks form the [[Order of Saint Basil the Great]] in [[Eastern Europe]] and abroad.
==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]]. 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 language|Church Slavonic]]: ''Trebnik''), as are the other Sacred Mysteries and services performed according to need, such as [[Christian burial|funerals]], [[blessing]]s, and [[exorcism]]s.
The [[religious habit|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." [[Novice]]s are most often referred to as "Brother", although at some places, e.g., on [[Mount Athos]], 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 [[hieromonk]]s (priest-monks); monks who have been ordained to the [[diaconate]] are called [[hierodeacon]]s (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 [[canon law|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]] in the [[Sinai Peninsula]] ([[Egypt]]), [[Meteora]] at [[Thessaly]] in [[Greece]], [[Mount Athos]] in [[Greek Macedonia]], [[Mar Saba]] in the [[Bethlehem Governorate]] of the [[West Bank]], and the [[Monastery of Saint John the Theologian]] on the island of [[Patmos]] in Greece.{{citation needed|date=April 2010}}
[[File:Saint Jonah of Kyiv.jpg|thumb|Saint {{ill|Jonah of Kiev|ru|Иона Киевский}} (1802–1902), a Ukrainian Orthodox Saint wearing the analavos, representing the order of the Great Schema, the highest monastic degree.]]
==Degrees==
===Novice===
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'''Novice''' (Greek: δόκιμος, ''dókimos''; [[Church Slavonic language|Church Slavonic]]: 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 [[Cassock#Eastern Catholic and Orthodox examples|inner cassock]] ({{langx|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===
<!-- [[Rassaphore]] and [[Rassaphor-monk]] redirect here -->
'''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]] 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]]''.) If the novice has not previously received it, a leather belt is fastened around his waist. His [[Religious habit|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===
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'''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 a 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 of Christ|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 (vesture)|mantle]], 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]] 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.<!-- In what rule? This cannot be a uniform practice, can it?--> The abbot increases the Stavrophore monk’s [[prayer rule]], allows a more strict personal ascetic practice, and gives the monk more responsibility.<!-- Of what kind? Administration? Authority? -->
===Great Schema===
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[[Image:megaloschema.svg|thumb|upright|The [[analavos of the Great Schema]] worn by Orthodox monks and nuns of the most advanced degree]]
'''Great Schema''' ({{langx|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 of the Great Schema|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 [[Arma Christi|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. <!-- ? Not the same as the [[polystavrion]], a vestment? --> 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 God|Kingdom of Heaven]]. 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 ''[[cowl|koukoulion]]'', 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]], 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.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sanidopoulos|first=John|title=The Analavos of the Great Schema Explained|url=https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2010/08/analavos-of-great-schema-explained.html|access-date=2021-01-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=A Brief Explanation of the Symbolism of the Analabos|url=http://www.diakonima.gr/2010/06/21/a-brief-explanation-of-the-symbolism-of-the-analabos/|access-date=2021-01-25|website=Διακόνημα|language=el}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-05-23|title=The Meaning of the Analavos of the Great Schema|url=https://blog.obitel-minsk.com/2017/05/the-meaning-of-analavos-of-great-schema.html|access-date=2021-01-25|website=The Catalog of Good Deeds|language=en-US}}</ref> 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]], 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]]. 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.
==Western Rite Orthodox degrees==
Within [[Western rite Orthodoxy]], also known simply as Western Orthodoxy, there exist a few communities that use the [[Rule of Saint Benedict]] and wear the monastic habit of the [[Order of Saint Benedict|Benedictines]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ladyminster.com |title=HOME |publisher=Monastery of Our Lady and Saint Lawrence}}</ref> One such community is [[Christ the Saviour Monastery]] in [[Hamilton, Ontario]], which falls under the jurisdiction of the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia]] (ROCOR).
Most Western Orthodox monastic communities fall under the ROCOR or the [[Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]].
There also exist some independent "Western Orthodox" monasteries, that do not fall under any canonically recognized [[Organization of the Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox diocese]].<ref name="MeltonBaumann2010">{{cite book |last1=Melton |first1=J. Gordon |last2=Baumann |first2=Martin |title=Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, 2nd Edition [6 volumes] |date=21 September 2010 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-59884-204-3 |page=1904 |language=en}}</ref>
===Degrees===
Western Orthodox monks, like many of their [[Latin Church|Latin Catholic]] counterparts, do not ordinarily work in established degrees. A monk is simply tonsured into their monastery and advances with experience and age.
'''Oblates''' are similar to novices in Byzantine rite monasticism, in that they are laypeople who take on a monastic vow, but are not formally apart of a monastery.<ref>{{cite web |title=Oblate |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/oblate |publisher=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]}}</ref> There is no equivalent to ''Rasophore'', ''Stavrophore'' or ''Schemamonk'' in Western monasticism, all of these would simply be known as '''Monk'''.
A '''Prior''', while not a monastic degree, is afforded some degree of authority and prestige within a monastery.
==See also==
{{Portal|Christianity}}
*[[Acoemetae]]
*[[Christian monasticism]]
*[[Monastery of Stoudios]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.arts.ualberta.ca/axismundi/2001/to_be_transformed_part1.php History of monasticism in Russia]
*[http://orthodoxmonk.blogspot.com/2005/10/vows-of-tonsure-to-great-schema.html Vows of Great Schema] a portion of the Tonsure service
*[http://www.sestry.ru/eng/content/bip/03/042 Tonsure of a Schemanun] Novo-Tikhvin Monastery, [[Ekaterinburg]], Russia
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928141313/http://www.3saints.com/schema.html Great Angelic Schema] Russian Orthodox ([[Moscow Patriarchate]])
*[http://www.sestry.ru/eng/image?my_img=1115 Paraman] Russian Orthodox (Photo)
*[http://www.sestry.ru/eng/image?my_img=1115_ Skufia for Schemamonk] (Photo)
*[http://www.istok.net/greek-great-schema-megaloschema.html Embroidered Greek Great Schema (megaloschema)] (Photo)
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