THE MEANING OF MONASTICISM
His Grace, Hadrian Mar Elijah Bar Israël

In the early fourth Century, a new religious movement swept across the Roman Province of Egypt. Young and old alike, denounced the world, sold their things and gave the money to the poor; they moved out into the desert and refused to earn money, pay taxes, or vote. This new movement was the latest step in the development of monasticism, and the Romans were stunned.

No matter which of the worldly professions you choose, you will always have to face the downside that someone somewhere is being harmed by your actions. That car you have to drive to work pollutes the environment. And the client you just sold that insurance policy to may never be able to collect, even if they keep up the payments. The only way of recusing oneself of culpability is to renounce the world. There are two ways, the path of life and the path of death. Monasticism is the path of Life, the renunciation of the world, it’s machinations, it’s anger, it’s fear; in exchange for citizenship in the Kingdom, and communion with Christ’s Holy Bride, the Church.

The first monasteries were experiments in the way in which Christians chose to live. Hermits, living away from society, and from each other littered the out-skirts of the cities of Egypt and Syria like stone walls, guarding them from invasion. Communities of monks and nuns banned together, forming a completely new dimension of prayerful life unlike that of the Israelites, and very distinctly Christian. Others would live in covenant relationships with a spiritual master, or elder, who would teach them holiness by blessed obedience.

They were men and women who literally had nothing, but God; no baths, little sleep, malnutrition and loneliness. But the emphasis of their lives was never on what they did not have, for in their minds they had everything. The ability, through prayer, to come into union with that part of the universe that is shared by all things - the Divine.

The practice of monasticism, which defies the natural world, concerned the Roman authorities, who had reason to worry about the new social movement, especially with the fact that this civilly disobedient people disavowed their Roman citizenship trading it in for citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven, and no longer paid Roman taxes, or upheld their social or family obligations. Young men fled out into the deserts, avoiding military conscription. It was a giving up of the world, and all of it’s aspects, and a taking on of a new life.

Monasticism was the invention of holy men and women, who, inspired by the Holy Spirit, chose to give up their familial associations, move into the desert, and mortify their flesh, in an attempt to remove the influence of the body, and follow the angelic path of living with divine will replacing their own.

Anchorite, the Greek word for 'monastic' means literally "Rule Breaker", or "Rebel" These life filled creatures of God are still Rebels today. They live against the 'rule' of society, in poverty, denying both social structure and capitol (riches). They live without domestication; in forests, sketes, and even in cities. Their lives are raw, the struggle of divinity against the flesh. Monastics do not fulfill the usual 'public duties' as society sees them, not obeying the social conventions of men, but following after the law of God.

Some men and women are drawn to monasticism because it is their preference, others are given to monasticism from birth, since it is the way that they know they must be to survive. Contrary to the current mode of portrayal, monasticism is not masochism, or a means by which one might punish oneself for the sins one has committed. It is not a self-imposed wish to stay ignorant and deny the reality of the world. On the contrary, monasticism is an entire way of life, developed to bring already suffering souls to a state of grace, away from the pangs of mortal life.

For some people monasticism is a calling, which is unavoidable. For others the road to monastic Faith is due to the duplicity of their earlier life. Saint John Climacus says, “All who have willingly left the things of the world, have certainly done so either for the sake of the future Kingdom, or because of the multitude of their sins, or for love of God. If they were not moved by any of these reasons their withdrawal from the world was unreasonable.” Those whose actions are unreasonable are better off remaining in a secular state, living out their lives in the world.

This article is also available in French by clicking here.