Meaning in Monasticism (Teachings of the Orthodox Church)

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“I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me, and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. “You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain, for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. You shall labor six days, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your God. You shall not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy. “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you. “You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal. “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

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	Meaning in Monasticism (Teachings of the Orthodox Church)

QUESTION:

I am neither Roman Catholic nor Orthodox but am learning what I can about both communions. I'm reading Thomas Merton's A Seven Storey Mountain, which leads to the question below.

In the Roman tradition it seems that those living the monastic life are understood to be generating spiritual well-being for the Church as a whole; I suppose this ties in with their understanding of the spirtual economy involving indulgences?

I know that Orthodoxy does not recognize indulgences. What sense is there in Orthodoxy, if any, of the spiritual value to the Church of monastics, aside from and in addition to the obvious ones related to their prayers for the Church?

ANSWER:

The major contribution of monasticism to the Church at large, as you have observed, is the prayer that they offer "on behalf of all and for all." Orthodox monastic life is contemplative -- we do not have monastic "orders" devoted to teaching, social work, etc., such as one would find in Roman Catholicism.

Over and above this, monastic communities provide a strong witness to the world of a lifestyle rooted not only in prayer, but in service, hospitality, and concern for the salvation of others. Monasteries provide a place of refuge for the faithful -- a place where they too can "lay aside all earthly cares," as we sing in the Cherubic Hymn during the Divine Liturgy, and seek spiritual guidance and refreshment. Visits and pilgrimages to monasteries are most rewarding, and the contact between the monastics and the faithful are invaluable. It is often said that the test of a church's strength may be found in the presence and strength of its monastic communities.

Monastics, who Orthodox Christians see as living the "angelic life," provide a tremendous witness to the faithful by their detachment from the cares of this world while providing a living example of what Saint Paul means when he writes that we are "in the world but not of it."

Published in January 2011.

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