What is Orthodox Monasticism?

Orthodox monasticism is the angelic life — total consecration to God through prayer, fasting, and ascetic struggle.

The Origins of Monasticism

Christian monasticism arose in Egypt in the 3rd–4th centuries, with St. Anthony the Great as its father.
The Desert Fathers and Mothers fled to the desert to escape the laxity of a Christianized empire and pursue God undistracted.
St. Pachomius founded the first cenobitic (communal) monastery; eremitic (solitary) monasticism also flourished.
Mount Athos in Greece remains the center of Orthodox monasticism today.

Forms of Monastic Life

Cenobitic: communal life under an abbot/abbess, following a common rule of prayer and work.
Eremitic: solitary life of prayer in a cell or cave, under a spiritual father's guidance.
Skete: a small community of 2–5 monastics, between cenobitic and eremitic life.
The monastic degrees: Rassophore, Stavrophore (Lesser Schema), and Great Schema.

Monasticism and the Parish Church

Monastics intercede for the world through unceasing prayer — they serve the Church even in solitude.
Much of the Church's liturgical tradition, hymnography, and theology comes from monasteries.
Lay Christians benefit from the witness and spiritual guidance of monastics.
Pilgrimage to monasteries is a traditional form of Orthodox piety.

Next steps

Why this matters

Use this explainer to orient seekers, start classroom discussions, or pair with the prayers and study guides linked below.

Orthodox monasticism is the way of life in which men and women leave the world to devote themselves entirely to God through prayer, fasting, and ascetic struggle. Monastics are considered the vanguard of the Church, interceding for the whole world.