Hieromonk is ... The meaning of the term "Hieromonk"

Hieromonk is a concept from the orthodox lexicon. Therefore, in Russia it is quite recognizable. However, the subtleties of meaning, as well as the history of this term, are little known beyond the framework of ecclesiastical orthodoxy. This article will be devoted to them.

Origin and etymology

The term "hieromonk" is a Greek construction, which comes from two roots - "Hieros" and "monos". The first of them is translated as "sacred", and the second - "one". Therefore, literally this word is translated as "sacred loner". However, "monos" is also a special technical term, which means a hermit who has chosen the path of religious perfection beyond the bonds of marriage and attachment to the world. Therefore in the Russian language this word entered without a translation in the form of a "monk". As for the "Hieros", the word "jereus", that is, the "priest", is derived from it. In such a hieromonk, it is simply a priest-monk. It is in this sense that this word is used in Orthodoxy and in Christianity in general.

History

It is known that initially the monks could not receive the holy order. This was due to the fact that they lived a hermit's life and could not engage in pastoral, social activities, with which the ministry of the priest was associated. Therefore, for the first centuries of Christianity, hieromonk is something unthinkable, contradictory. However, in the future, when the monks began to rally and form their communities that had grown up in monasteries, they had a need for their leaders and their priests. Therefore, some of them began to elect and represent to the ordination. Thus the first priests of the hermits appeared. The preaching of the hieromonk was limited to the monastic brotherhood and occasionally to the pilgrims who came to them. Ancient monasteries were located in deserted, uninhabited places, and therefore the laity there appeared infrequently. However, already in the early Middle Ages monasteries in the suburbs and even inside the cities themselves are beginning to appear more and more often. Most often, they were founded by ruling persons - monarchs, barons and other aristocrats. The life of the hieromonk in such a monastery, unlike his brothers on the periphery of civilization, was associated with politics no less, and sometimes more than with priestly and spiritual ministry. In the modern world, monastics no longer hide from the world, as before, and so many monasteries are located in the city. In addition, if earlier the priest's dignity was awarded only to selected brethren from the population of the monastery, today in monasteries almost 100% of monks are priests. Exceptions to this rule, of course, are available, but the trend is as follows.

Hierarchy inside monastic priests

We found out that the hieromonk is a priest who brought monastic vows. But the official title of such a clergyman may change over time. For example, there is a rank of abbot. Previously, abbots of monasteries were called abbots. In other words, they were hieromonks, who were given, in addition to the priestly, the supreme administrative authority in the monastery. A similar post, but more honorable and high in the hierarchy, is the archimandrite. In the Orthodox tradition, it is from the archimandrites that the bishops are elected. Even the Bishop of Bishop, who was elected to the episcopal chair, accepts the rank of archimandrite, having previously received the rank of archimandrite. Sometimes such archimandrites wear their title for not more than a day. At present both the abbot and the archimandrite are, as a rule, not administrative posts, but honorable titles of honor. Such priests do not really differ from ordinary hieromonks, except for more luxurious vestments and some authority among believers.

Hieromonks in other faiths

Orthodoxy is not the only Christian confession where there are monastic priests. Such are also found in Catholicism and in Anglicanism. In addition, there are a number of churches that associate themselves with Orthodoxy, but historically ascendant to Monophysite and Nestorian communities. Being very ancient, they also preserve a monastic tradition and, accordingly, have priests from monks. They are called, however, everywhere in different ways. The Greek term "Hieromonk" itself is the property of only Orthodox churches of the Byzantine tradition, which includes the ROC MP. In addition, this word in the course of the Greek Catholics, that is, Catholics, adhering to the Eastern, Orthodox rite.