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[[Image:Panteleimon_Monastery.jpg|right|thumb|350px|[[St. Panteleimon's Monastery (Athos)|St. Panteleimon's Monastery]] on [[Mount Athos]]]]
{{spirituality}}
'''Monasticism''' (from Greek: ''μοναχος''—μοναχός, a solitary person) is the ancient Christian practice of withdrawal from the world in order to dedicate oneself fully and intensely to the life of the [[Gospel]], seeking union with [[Jesus Christ]].
The focus of monasticism is on [[theosis]], the process of perfection to which every Christian is called. This ideal is expressed everywhere that the things of God are sought above all other things, as seen for example in the ''[[Philokalia]]'', a book of monastic writings. In other words, a [[monk]] or nun is a person who has vowed to follow not only the commandments of the Church, but also the counsels (i.e., vows of poverty, chastity, stability, and obedience). The words of Jesus which are the cornerstone for this ideal are "be ye perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Thus, monks practice [[hesychasm]], the spiritual struggle of [[catharsis|purification]] (καθαρσιςκάθαρσις), [[theoria|illumination]] (θεωριαθεωρία) and [[theosis|divinization]] (θεωσιςθέωσις) in [[prayer]], the [[sacrament]]s and obedience.
==Precursors of the Christian monastic ideal==
The female role models for monasticism are the [[Theotokos]] and the four virgin daughters of the [[Apostle Philip (of the Twelve)]]:
: And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto [[Caesarea]]: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. ([[Acts of the Apostles|Acts]] 21:7-9)
[[Image:Romanian_hieromonk.jpg|right|thumb|250px|This image from a monastery in Rumania shows the [[abbot]] (or [[igumen]]) seated in the chair reserved for his status. He is holding the staff of his office and wearing the [[epitrachelion]] that symbolizes his priesthood as a [[hieromonk]].]]
In many cases in Orthodoxy, when a [[bishop]]ric needs to be filled, suitable candidates are found from nearby monasteries. Since many priests are married (before being ordained to the priesthood), but bishops are required to be celibate, monasteries are a good source of celibate men who are also spiritually mature and generally possessing the other qualities desired in a bishop. Numerous saints from the Church's tradition are examples of this practice.
==[[Monastic Ranks|Monastic grades]]==
When one desiring the monastic life enters a monastery, he or she normally passes through three steps or stages:
#Probationer - Novice, Riasaphor
#Monk of the Lesser Schema - Cross-bearer, Stavrophore
#Monk of the Great Schema - Russian Skhimnik
==See also==
*[[Mount Athos]]
*[[Monasteries and Monasticism]]
*[[Monastic Ranks]]
==External links==
*[http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article7103.asp Monasticism in the Orthodox Church] by Metropolitan [[Maximos (Aghiorgoussis) of Pittsburgh]]
*[http://www.kosovo.comnet/monasticism.html Orthodox Monasticism] (Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Raska and Prizren)
*[http://www.romanity.org/htm/flo.01.en.the_ascetic_ideal_and_the_new_testament.01.htm The Ascetic Ideal and the New Testament] by Fr. [[Georges Florovsky]]
*[http://www.orthodox-monasteries.com/ Orthodox Monasteries Worldwide Directory]
[[el:Μοναχισμός]]
[[it:Monachesimo]]
[[mk:Манастир]]
[[ro:Monahism]]
