Orthodox Christian Monasticism

Orthodox Christian Monasticism: The Ascetic Life

Asceticism is the foundation of the Orthodox Christian faith and is the effort a Christian makes to live up to the purpose of life in the church. Asceticism allows one to gain freedom from all the earthly distraction that is preventing their full communion with God. Asceticism is the sword and shield of spiritual life; it is from ascetic practices such as fasting, pray, chastity, isolation, and self-denial, that a Christian learns to detach himself from the worldly distractions that are preventing him from turning his full attention to God. Asceticism heavily on taming the desires of one's heart. In one article by Fr. Vladimir Berzonsky, rector of the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Parma Ohio,

Christianity became accepted as the main Roman religion and an end was put to the persecution of Christians. This end of persecution also meant that martyrdom by blood was no longer an option to prove one’s piety and as a result, many turned to extreme ascetic practices as a form of long-term martyrdom. The end of persecution caused Christianity to become a norm of society which is one of the major causes for the development of monasticism. Since the was no longer a danger associated with the open practice of Christianity ascetic practices among the masses became lax; in turn, this was what led to the creation of the monastic life. Those who had the desire to more fervently pursue the ancient ascetic teaching to the fullest of their capability answered the call of monkhood. Monasticism was a response to the lessening of the importance of asceticism in the Christian's daily life, which was the result of Christianity becoming popular among the masses; which, had previously been mostly

Coenobitic monasticism is a community-based form of monasticism in which all members of the community do all things in common. In the coenobitic monastery, everything is shared: living quarters, food, work, and prayers. The Egoumenos, or Abbot, is the designated spiritual father of the cenobium and the words of Athanasius the Athonite, it is the Egumenos’ job to “Take care that the brethren have everything in common.” The second form, idiorrhythmic monasticism, is a more distant form of monastic community in which the monks or nuns might come together to pray but they work and eat individually or in small groups. In this type of monasticism, individuals might even perform the majority of their prayers alone, coming together only for Eucharistic Liturgy (liturgy in which one receives holy communion) and even then this might only occur on certain occasions. The third and final type of monasticism, known as eremitic or anchorite monasticism, is also the most ancient of the three types and is often traced back to the origins of monastic life itself. Anthony of Egypt (251-356), also known as Anthony the Great, was the pioneer of this earliest type of monasticism. To modern-day practitioners of the monastic life, anchorite monasticism is often seen as the most extreme form of ascetic practice as it revolves around complete seclusion. He who devotes himself