Probably, each of us at least once saw a monk (or nun), came across them in temples or in everyday life. Statistics show that a survey of several people on the topic “Why and how do female and male representatives go to the monastery” collected the vast majority of typical answers.
The absolute majority believes that young nuns or monks
are victims of unhappy,
unrequited love, who have not found for their lonely soul a shelter other than a monastery. And women and middle-aged men did not have a family life or a professional career.
Is this really so? Let's find out.
So, the general opinion about this situation is as follows - nuns (and monks) are people who have not found themselves in this life, or are simply weak in spirit. The monks themselves do not agree with such a meager philistine opinion. They explain and tell in a completely different way how they leave for the monastery! Let's find out the real truth!
I want to go to the monastery, but conscience does not allow ...
People of completely different ages and social status come to the monastery. It can be poor old people,
Mature women or just young and
intelligent people. The reason for this is the most ordinary human desire to repent, to devote his life to the Lord, as well as an irresistible desire for self-improvement. Note the difference - not losers go to the monastery, but decisive and energetic people! Indeed, in order to live in conditions of monasticism, you need to be a courageous and decisive person.
How to go to the monastery?
To become a monk, a person needs to take certain vows before the Lord God. This is a pretty serious step, and there is simply no turning back! Therefore, there is a variant of a kind of "insurance". So that a person does not make the main mistake of his life, succumbing to one or another feeling, he is tested for a long time. This happens by assigning him a monastic degree.
- Worker This is the very first rank. He is appropriated to a person who decided to leave the monastery for a while, to work for the Glory of God - not for money, for free. Such a person does not assume any obligations and can always return to the world.
- Novice. This is the second rank. They are awarded a person who wishes to become a monk, who wrote a petition for admission to the fraternity. He is credited, issued a cassock and set a trial period.The time limit is unlimited. Someone can be sheared a monk earlier, someone later. It all depends on the inner readiness of the person himself. Usually this period lasts several years. In this case, the novice can return to the world. This is not condemned, but not welcome.
- Monk. This is the latest and irreversible rank. At this stage, a person is obligated to take vows. There is no turning back. Treason to these vows has equal power to treason to the Almighty! If a person who knows how to go to a monastery suddenly changes his vows, he becomes a clutch. Such people had not even been buried in cemeteries before! A funeral was held outside the fence, as for suicides.