Etymology Monastery

the plan of saint gall, ground plan of unbuilt abbey, providing of needs of monks within confines of monastery walls

the word monastery comes greek word μοναστήριον, neut. of μοναστήριος – monasterios μονάζειν – monazein live alone root μόνος – monos alone (originally christian monks hermits); suffix -terion denotes place doing . earliest extant use of term monastērion 1st century ad jewish philosopher philo in on contemplative life, ch. iii.

in england word monastery applied habitation of bishop , cathedral clergy lived apart lay community. cathedrals not monasteries, , served canons secular, communal not monastic. however, run monasteries orders, such york minster. westminster abbey short time cathedral, , benedictine monastery until reformation, , chapter preserves elements of benedictine tradition. see entry cathedral. distinguished collegiate churches, such st george s chapel, windsor.

terms

in of article, term monastery used generically refer of number of types of religious community. in roman catholic religion , extent in branches of buddhism, there more specific definition of term , many related terms.

buddhist monasteries called vihara (pali language). viharas may occupied males or females, , in keeping common english usage, vihara populated females may called nunnery or convent. however, vihara can refer temple. in tibetan buddhism, monasteries called gompa. in thailand, laos , cambodia, monastery called wat. in burma, monastery called kyaung.

a christian monastery may abbey (i.e., under rule of abbot), or priory (under rule of prior), or conceivably hermitage (the dwelling of hermit). may community of men (monks) or of women (nuns). charterhouse monastery belonging carthusian order. in eastern christianity, small monastic community can called skete, , large or important monastery can given dignity of lavra.

the great communal life of christian monastery called cenobitic, opposed anchoretic (or anchoritic) life of anchorite , eremitic life of hermit. there has been, under osmanli occupation of greece , cyprus, idiorrhythmic lifestyle monks come being able own things individually , not being obliged work common good.

in hinduism monasteries called matha, mandir, koil, or commonly ashram.

jains use buddhist term vihara.