The word “cell” somehow naturally evokes images of monks, icons and monasteries. The way of life of people who have renounced worldly concerns is not always clear to the average person. However, being misunderstood does not mean being uninteresting. Rather, on the contrary, most are curious to know how those who have dedicated their lives to God live, what they eat, and even whether they watch TV. Let's try to get into the monk's home, look at his life and understand what a cell is.
Etymology of the word
The word “cell” was borrowed from Greek (κελλίον) and Latin (cella), and later found use in Old Church Slavonic, literally meaning “room”. IN English You can also find the consonant cell, which means “cell (in prison), cell.” Numerous dictionaries basically have the same interpretation of what a cell is. The definition of this word is: a private room or quarters where a monk or nun resides. Here members of the monastic community spend a significant part of their lives, sleeping and praying. IN figurative meaning This is a secluded small modest room of a lonely person.
What does a cell look like?
Not everyone knows what a cell is. In the classical sense, this is a separate room in the residential part of the monastery. However, one person may not always live there. At the same time, a cell can become a haven for several monks. Sometimes it can even be a separate small house. In Russian monasteries, each monk or nun was allowed to build his own cell, as a result of which community members from wealthy families could have a spacious and fairly comfortable room to use. But we will not judge by individual examples what a cell is. The vast majority of these are modest housing, where only the essentials are present, without frills. Staying here should bring spiritual benefit to the inhabitant.
Purpose of the cell
The statutes of many monasteries may include a special provision “On cell stays.” First of all, this is a place for performing prayer, reading spiritual and highly moral literature, copying from books and thinking about wise edifying thoughts. There is a whole list of ascetic writings recommended for reading. In their room, the monks, in the form of obediences, carry out tasks that were assigned to them by their abbot or superiors. Also, an understanding of what a cell is will not be entirely complete if we do not mention one important point. Visitors to a monk's monastery are allowed only with the blessing of the highest authorities, and the presence of women in the cells of men's monasteries, and men, respectively, in women's monasteries is prohibited.
Monastic cells surround the perimeter of the central courtyard monastery. Most of their windows overlook the cathedral square.
The first cells were huts made of wood. The beginning of stone cell construction in the monastery dates back to XVI century. This is one of the earliest cases of erecting stone residential cells in Russian monasteries. By the middle of the 17th century, almost all the cells in the monastery were made of stone.
Each cell then had a separate entrance. It consisted of two main rooms: a warm entryway and the cell itself. A cold entryway opened into the backyard, where there was a latrine (toilet) and firewood was stored. The small windows, located in deep niches, were made of mica and closed with wooden shutters.
At the end of the XVIII - early XIX centuries, the cell buildings were reconstructed in the monastery. They were arranged according to the corridor principle - the door to each led from common corridor. In the cells, the vaults were broken, stone ceilings were installed, the “well” windows were cleared, and the former doorways were blocked with bricks. At the same time, the decor was lost, the roofs were rebuilt, and some buildings were added with a third floor.
Each cell building has its own name. TO Church of St. Philip adjoins the Saint's building, south of Annunciation Church Blagoveshchensky is located, Nastoyatelsky continues its line, then Kaznacheysky is located. In the northern row of the cell building there are the Viceroyal and Rukhlyadny buildings. The eastern row is formed by Povarenny, Kvasovarenny, Prosforny and Novobratsky.
In addition to residential premises, the cell buildings also housed economic services. The purpose of many buildings is indicated by their names: Prosphora, Cookery, Kvasovarnenny, Laundry. The Viceroyal building housed a candle making, metalworking, and printing workshops, a boiler service in Novobratsky, and a tailor and shoe workshop for some time in Rukhlyadny.
Availability on site large number services distinguishes Solovetsky Monastery from other monasteries, where they tried to move such services beyond the fortress wall. This was dictated by the special border location of the monastery and the need to withstand a long siege when attacked by enemies. But even here all services were located outside the Cathedral Square.
The brethren of the revived monastery currently live in the Viceroyal Corps. In the Rukhlyadny building there is a monastery shop, a church-archaeological office, a restoration department and other services of the monastery, in winter time The pilgrimage service is located here. The Prosphora, Novobratsky, Blagoveshchensky and Laundry buildings are occupied by a museum-reserve. Restoration work is being carried out in all other cell buildings.
Stories
Men in Black . As a journalist, I lived for a week in a cell at a monastery in Yurovichi.
Olga Deksnis
Have you ever thought about leaving everything and joining a monastery? It seems almost impossible to decide on this. Home, work, friends, travel... But there are people who once up and abandoned their former life. Why? Who are these people? Journalist Olga Deksnis lived for a week in a women’s cell at a monastery in Yurovichi and found out what made Belarusians dress in black.
Early in the morning at the entrance to the monastery I am greeted by a smiling Abbot Auxentius- rector of the temple, head of the monastery. He has a lot to worry about: now he’s getting his second higher education, is the chairman of Church court, leads the parish in the Kalinkovichi Church, and also edits and updates the website. In addition, he manages to give assignments in the monastery and maintain discipline.
Here is your cell - the so-called women's cell - Father Auxentius hands me the key to the room with a high stone carved ceiling.
The village of Yurovichi in the Kalinkovichi district of the Gomel region is a storehouse of historical and cultural values. It is one of the most tasty morsels on the map of Belarusian tourism. Every schoolchild knows that here is the site of a primitive Belarusian man. It was this hilly area that Ivan Melezh wrote about in his novel “People in the Swamp.” There is also a Jesuit Temple of incredible beauty and complex history, dating back to 1710–1746 years of construction. Today it has been transformed into the Holy Nativity of the Theotokos monastery and the Holy Nativity of the Mother of God Church. I've wanted to come here for a long time.
In the room that was allocated to me there are two windows, a table, a chair, four free beds for female pilgrims and laborers (the latter come to help the temple on personal plot, at a construction site, in the kitchen and financially). I quickly settle down in a new place, throw my suitcase and hurry after the priest.
Here we have a refectory,” he continues the tour of the monastery. - You will eat at nine, two and seven in the evening. By the way, do you want to have breakfast? The ringing of a bell will call you to the table.
Two male workers work in the kitchen; they also live in the monastery. Their working day begins at 5.30 am and not with a cup of coffee, but with processing yesterday's milk. Cheese, cottage cheese, and sour cream are made from it. The menu is chief accountant, later approved by the abbot. And food directly depends on donations.
There is never meat on our menu,” says Leonid, a gray-haired cook with a long thin beard. Seeing my camera, he turns away and explains: Christianity prohibits taking photographs. - I know that in other monasteries you can eat the meat of those “who do not chew chewers and who do not have cloven hooves.” We absolutely do not have pork. We prepare, in particular, from milk, sour cream, cottage cheese, fish and vegetables.
Leonid - former employee railway station. He has been living in the monastery for two years. He also tested himself in another monastery - in Odessa.
To get there only for the night, the leaders of the Ukrainian monastery called Yurovichi and took my reference,” recalls Leonid. - And the next morning they asked me a question: am I going to become a novice or am I returning to my homeland? The novice is the first step, then comes the monk, and then the monk. And I didn’t agree - I wasn’t ready. And they don’t need workers. They have 130 monks who manage to do everything themselves.
In the corridor we hear a small bell ring three times, a man in a blue kitchen robe calls everyone to the table.
Today for breakfast oatmeal in steam room cow's milk, fresh strawberries from the garden, tea, loaf and plum jam. Before eating we receive a blessing from Father Pavel. Standing at the table, we read “Our Father.” Everyone sits down, eats silently and listens to the complete collection of works of St. Ignatius Brianchaninov - this is a specially adapted reading for modern people. It is read out by worker Sasha:
Chapter 38. “Everyone who has entered a monastery and accepted the good yoke of Christ must remain in non-covetousness, being content with what is most necessary and being protected from excess in clothing, in cell accessories, in money; The property, wealth, and treasure of a monk should be our Lord, Jesus Christ; Our gaze must be constantly directed towards him.”
Sachet He’s only 23 years old, he has a history of drugs, and “thanks to” them he has a second disability group. Today Sasha is burning with the desire to devote himself only to God. Once and for all. Reluctant to talk about himself. He prays wherever possible: in the corridor, on the street and, of course, in the Church of All Saints. He also sings. He is in good standing here.
When the prayer ends, Father Paul rings a small bell and gives a blessing for departure. Father sees that I can’t cope with the clear time frame of “line of prayer - breakfast time”, he pats me on the head and calms me with a smile: “Eat, eat!” Later it will become a good joke.
She became a nun at age 64.
According to the documents, the monastery is for men, but there are only four monks in it, among them the leadership is larger. According to unofficial information, new servants of God are reluctant to join it. This is due to the fact that the monastery and temple have been in a state of chronic construction and restoration, or rather, uncertainty, for about 100 years. Simply - closed. There is practically no arrival. I myself saw tourists driving past the temple and turning around when they saw the boarded up door.
Two elderly nuns live in the temple: 80-year-old Lavrentia And 85-year-old Macaria. As Father Avksentiy jokes, “we inherited it” (from 1993 to 2005 there was a convent here - author’s note) and they help mainly with prayer. They also give away a million from their pensions for food.
New unusual names women received upon tonsure. Wanting to get into the nuns’ cell, I receive from them a long cotton skirt with a flower and a small cross on a thread.
Be sure to wear a skirt to church and to the refectory,” says Mother Lavrentia, and I nod my head and agree to the new rules of life.
Otherwise, your clothes are completely out of place,” she smiles and looks at my tight gray jeans.
Mother Lavrentia came to God already as a pensioner. Previously, she was an accountant, milkmaid, and nurse. According to the laws Orthodox Church A woman up to 40–45 years old can take tonsure. The age range is not accidental. They should benefit the temple not only with prayer, but also with help in the courtyard. Mother is currently working at church shop. She can’t even remember why she decided to “leave”.
Two years after my husband’s death, I came to see the monastery in Khoiniki, and stayed there,” says Mother Lavrentia. - You know, before that age I had a consumer faith: light a candle, remember someone, color eggs, get some water.
How did your children react to your decision to join a monastery?
I had three of them: two daughters and a son,” says mother. - One died not long ago. At first they seemed to react with misunderstanding, distrust, and reluctance. Over time we got used to it. And now we are happy. Every year on Radunitsa, with the blessing of the abbot, I come to see them. I go to the cemetery, my mother, husband, and daughter are buried there. Children also sometimes come to see me, but it’s all expensive. Last year, sisters came to visit, one from Lithuania, the other from Russia. They lived here and liked it very much.
“Once I dreamed of the Virgin Mary”
85-year-old Mother Macaria goes out the door and hurries to the " Home room» - small temple in the monastery itself. I follow her and shout loudly (the woman is hard of hearing): “Can I ask you just a couple of questions?”
I have time to read the psalter now! - she responds to my unexpected shouting, diluted by the delicious acoustics of the high ceilings.
The main time is devoted to prayer in the temple. All notes brought “for health” and “for repose” and much more are reported around the clock by monks and nuns.
Tell us your story, how did you come to the monastery?
“I was 70 years old, no husband, no children,” says mother and hints that there is absolutely no time for talking. - One day the Virgin Mary dreamed of me and said: “Go to your cell.” So I came when called. Immediately to the Khoiniki Monastery, and then we were transferred here. All my life I worked as a cook. But I always liked monasticism. I immediately worked as a cook at the temple, and then my legs could not bear the load.
On a personal plot temple complex work is in full swing from morning to evening. Young monk Seraphim watches volunteer builders install new ones wooden windows, also donated by an unnamed entrepreneur.
Seraphim is the son of a priest, he is only 27 years old. He took monastic vows two years ago. Now he studies at the Orthodox Academy.
I came here on vacation, stayed for a month and liked it,” says the monk. - I quit my job - from electrical networks. My parents were shocked, which is why I delayed the decision for a long time. But I realized that the further I went, the more doubts I had.
What is the difference between a monk and a priest?
The most important difference is the inability to have a family. I looked at my friends who were the same age, who managed to get married and divorced, and I was satisfied with this point.
Why does a monk need education?
Strange question. But in general, this is necessary for the parishioners. Here a person comes to you with a question: which icon to pray to, how often and what to do. And everyone’s situation is different: someone’s son is in prison, someone’s husband drinks, someone’s daughter married the wrong person. And you need to give advice: it is important to be an interlocutor.
Later in the conversation, Father Avksentiy also answered this question to me.
Education is necessary so that monks do not spread obscurantism and look at life sensibly, he explained. - Simply ignorance of the fundamentals of faith, including dogmatism, often gives rise to all sorts of superstitions.
In the morning there is a service, in the evening there is also a mandatory religious procession
Each new day in the monastery begins at seven in the morning with a service, at five - evening prayer And religious procession. If the service is a liturgy, then it can last more than two hours.
Each monk and worker is assigned his own area of work: someone cuts wood, someone is responsible for cows and chickens. Thus, Father Pavel is in charge of the hives, 36-year-old worker Sasha is in charge of the garden.
After breakfast, I go weed the strawberries, at this time I talk with Sasha, who refuses to be photographed, but is happy to talk about himself.
How do you like it here? - I pull out the grass and conduct a dialogue.
My mother got sick, she couldn’t walk at all in recent months, I had to quit working on the collective farm and look after her,” recalls Sasha. “They didn’t give her a group; they lived only on her pension. Already, when she was dying, there were a couple of months when we took advantage of benefits for medicines. A month after my mother died, my brother hanged himself. I ended up becoming very depressed and ended up in the hospital.
Sasha says that heavy tranquilizers made it difficult for him to return to work: after leaving the hospital, he became insensitive and constantly wanted to sleep.
“Once at home, near the icons, I heard a voice - a church chant,” he says. - The singing was repeated endlessly and I already thought I was going crazy. I called my neighbor and told her: “Listen, can you hear singing?” On her advice, I began to go to church, serve there, and these chants stopped. I still don't know what it was. Later I ended up in another monastery, but I didn’t like it there. And here I felt at home. Both the garden and the land. And my soul is easy because I am constantly in church. Now I want to do everything to become a monk. I read a lot and learn to sing.
Does this mean you will never start a family?
In the world - no, here I want to give it to God.
While we were talking, he came up Father Pavel- a third generation priest. His brother is a priest, and his sister is an abbess in a convent in Riga. His father taught him to “talk” to bees from an early age.
By the way, if there is fish on the table, it means it was the work of Father Pavel - he is an avid fisherman, he went to Pripyat. Father has a special love for life. Later I noticed that he could simply hug a person who came to him, talk to him, calm him down, kiss him on the head, like a little one. It’s especially funny when he calls his 85-year-old mother “youth.” Loves to play with children who come to the service.
Do you want to see the bees? - Father Pavel frees the hive from down pillows and calls me. - Don’t be afraid, as long as I’m here, they won’t touch you, I shouted at them! Take it in your hands - I take it and shake, hundreds of bees in my hand. - Look, these are honeycombs, we buy them, and the bees themselves stretch them and fill them with honey. This is the uterus - it is the main one. If she flies away, her entire extended family will die. A bee can lay from 500 to 1.5 thousand eggs per day, and after 19 days new bees will be born.
After some time, Sasha says that it’s time to wash your hands and move to the refectory. Today for lunch pea soup with vegetable broth, rice and fish cutlet.
Worker Sasha reads the Teachings again, during which he lost his appetite and just wanted to disappear.
Chapter 42. “On keeping away from acquaintance with the female sex.”
“Reverend fathers, ours, holy monks of all times carefully guarded themselves from acquaintance with the female sex. Entry of women into ancient monasteries was prohibited... The union of the sexes in existing form its natural (fallen nature). Virginity is higher naturally. Consequently, whoever wants to preserve his body in virginity must certainly keep it away from that body, the union with which is required by nature.”
After reading the prayer, the abbot devotes time to informal conversation.
“I want to conduct a small test between us,” he intrigues. - Everyone, please answer me this question, but it’s a little tricky: where would you like to meet Jesus in your life - in freedom or in prison?
There is silence in the “hall”, and I take the first answer into my own hands, as they say.
I would like to meet him in prison, I would have more time to “stop and think” and communicate with him, I say.
An interesting thought,” Father Avxenty picks up my thoughts. - In fact, we all want freedom. But more often we come to Jesus precisely when trouble strikes us in life. Alas, it is precisely in the most difficult moments of life that we are most open to him. But there is no need to be afraid of trials, they are given to us so that we can think about a lot of things.
"Simone, my girl"
Milk, cottage cheese and sour cream on the monastery table - thanks to the efforts Valeria. He himself comes from Ukraine, served in Soviet army, demobilized to Mozyr, got married. He has been living in the monastery for four years.
We go with him to the backyard of the monastery. I slap fresh cakes behind the commander-in-chief in the barn where three cows and three small calves live. Valery changes noticeably when he sees animals.
Oh, my little miracle, she gave birth,” the man changes his tone and kisses the animal. - Oh, my beauty, how she poses... Simone, my girl, let's get up.
And the cow, as if understanding the words, gets to her feet.
On my standard question“why”, he answers frankly:
Because he’s a loser, things didn’t work out in worldly life, two families fell apart,” Valery sighs and installs a milking machine for Simone. - From his first marriage there is an adult son, from his second there is also a son, he is nine years old.
For 12 years I worked as a housekeeper in Moscow for wealthy people. They have country house. There I earned about 800 dollars a month and spent no more than a hundred. Food is free, housing is provided - I had a separate house. I came home for two weeks in the summer and two weeks in the winter. Transferred money to my wife...
We walk around the barn, looking at the offspring.
What do I want to say about the temple? - we sit on a bench where we can smell the strong smell of animals. - You know, we are generally bad with advertising. But there are no advertisements, because main temple closed for many years. I wish people would come here. And the temple could earn something. Do your own creative workshops. And so, we do everything on our own - food from the garden.
Disappointment
At the entrance to the monastery stands wooden house. It is open to those who have lost a roof over their head and are ready to help the monastery with their hands.
26 year old Glory originally from Russia. Once upon a time, my mother and I fled from the scandals that constantly existed in their family to Blue-Eyed. He studies vocals and sings in a folk choir in a neighboring village. Always polite. Here is a responsible employee: from the kitchen and “go to the store” - to complex construction work. Vyacheslav was the only one here who openly wanted to talk:
Disappointment brought me here,” he lowers his eyes, purses his lips and answers awkwardly. - Disappointment in love. Our relationship lasted a year, and somehow everything didn’t work out. This was very painful. So I came here at the call of my heart. I live at the temple every other week. I like everything. But it still takes time to come to your senses and start living as before.
If you want to help revive the monastery, you can do so in different ways: money, labor, building materials, things, products.
The monastery is located at the address: Gomel region, Kalinkovichi district, village of Yurovichi, st. Gornaya, 9.
The governor is Abbot Avxentius (Abrazhey Andrey Eduardovich).
Tel.: 8 02345 59292; +375 29 730-11-56.
Details
THE HOLY CHRISTMAS OF THE BORN MONASTERY in the village of Yurovichi, Kalinkovichi district, Turov diocese. UNN 400440204, Belarus, 247722 Yurovichi village, Kalinkovichi district, Gomel region, st. Gornaya 9, account number 3015660172019 Central CO No. 7 Directorate of OJSC "BELINVESTBANK" for the Gomel region. Bank code 151501739.
Sberbank of Russia card 4279 0800 1029 4062 is valid until 10/18 ANDREY ABRAZHEY.
Kelia a special room for each monk in the monastery. If there is a lack of space in the general monastery building, each monk is allowed to build a special room in the monastery for himself at his own expense, in accordance with existing rules. IN Ancient Rus', when many people from the rich classes of society entered the monasteries, this permission was widely practiced, and the monasteries of other monks - for example, from the disgraced boyars in the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery under John IV - were distinguished not only by their vastness and spaciousness, but also by their comfort. Since the time of Peter the Great, when the forced tonsure of wives into monasticism by their husbands became a custom, nunneries abounded in the nuns' own cells. In both cases, inheritance of these K. was allowed by will by relatives of lay monastics (see “Description of the affairs of the Synodal Archives”), and sometimes they were sold by them to wealthy people newly entering the monasteries, sometimes they were donated to the monastery. Currently, after the death of the owners of such K., they necessarily become the property of the monastery (St. Law. Vol. IX, 387).
Encyclopedic Dictionary F. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron. - S.-Pb.: Brockhaus-Efron. 1890-1907 .
See what “Kelia” is in other dictionaries:
Cell (from Wed. Greek κελλίον, plural ία, κέλλα, from Latin cella “room, closet”; other Russian cell) the dwelling of the monks of the cell attendants in the monastery. A cell can be a room with a minimum of amenities: a table, a chair, a bed. Also, cells can be... ... Wikipedia
cell- Lii, zh. Ave. Keliya; outside the room in the monastery, the room in the yaznitsa; a small room with a closed window... Dictionary of Lemko language
Kelia- a separate room in the monastery, intended for the residence of a monk, or a monk’s house, standing especially ... Orthodox Encyclopedia
- (Mount Athos, Holy Mountain, Άγιον Όρος in Greek, among the Turks Aineros) a narrow mountainous peninsula (the eastern part of the wide Chalkidiki Peninsula), jutting into the Archipelago (Aegean Sea), somewhat east of the Gulf of Thessaloniki, 40° 40° N. sh., 42° ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron
St. Andrew's Monastery ... Wikipedia
Athos- or the Holy Mountain, as it is usually called, is located in the south of Macedonia, near the waters of the Aegean Sea. It is a peninsula, entirely covered with mountain ranges, stretching up to 80 versts in length and up to 20 in width. Light Christian faith … Complete Orthodox Theological Encyclopedic Dictionary
Cell in the caves of the Kitaevskaya desert. This term has other meanings, see Cell (meanings). Cell or cell (from the Greek ... Wikipedia
- (Georgy Alekseevich) recluse Zadonsky, son of the clerk of the Vologda Treasury Chamber; born in 1789 in the city of Vologda. Even before his birth, G. lost his father, who was mistakenly killed on Pyatnitsky Bridge. G.'s parents were people... ...
- (in the world Konstantin Alexandrovich) bishop, master of theology (from June 1, 1831), doctor of Hellenic literature, known for his numerous works on the history and archeology of the East and richly compiled collections of manuscripts. P.'s father was... ... Big biographical encyclopedia
- (in the world Timofey Sokolov) saint, bishop of Voronezh, famous hierarch and spiritual writer, born in 1724 in the village. Korotsk, Novgorod province, Valdai district, in the family of the poor sexton Savely Kirillovich. Having lost his father early, from the very... Large biographical encyclopedia
Stay in your cell - and your cell will teach you everything.
Venerable Moses of Ethiopia, 4th century
My soul becomes silent in Your presence, O my Lord,
in order to discern what You want to say to my heart.
Your words are so quiet that they can only be heard in silence.
Guigo II (1173 - 1180), Prior of the Great Chartreuse
The spirituality of the Carthusians is based on the principle - “Oh, blissful solitude, oh, the only bliss” (“O vera solitudo, o sola beatitudo”). In other words, solitude is the only happiness that should be sought in the name of meeting God. Reverend Anthony The Great (251 - 356), an early Christian ascetic and desert father, said that a monk needs a cell like water for a fish. " Just as fish die if they stay on land for a long time, so monks lose their spiritual connection with God if they leave their cell for a long time, spending time with worldly people. Therefore, just as a fish rushes into the sea, so we must hurry to the cell, so that, while remaining outside it, we do not forget about inner vigil».
Archbishop Giuseppe Mani (b. 1936) recalls his experience in the Carthusian monastery as fundamental in his life. Fifteen days spent in the Certosa di Serra San Bruno allowed him to understand that solitude is not loneliness at all. It is in silence and solitude that a person discovers the presence of God next to him. " The first three days of my stay in the cell, I admit, were very difficult, recalls Giuseppe Mani. - But at some point I realized that I was not alone in the cell. That there is someone else with me - God. And then the cell turned into heaven for me». « How many people these days live in their houses, feel lonely, suffer and are always waiting for someone - continues Giuseppe Mani . - Everyone is afraid of loneliness. That's why radios and televisions are always on in their homes. Oh, if only people discovered that they are not alone, their “confinement chambers” would turn into a paradise».
The Charter of the Carthusian Order states: “ Cell is that holy place, where God and his servant communicate as equals, talking to each other as friends. In the cell the soul listens to the word of the Lord, the bride unites with her Groom, heaven meets earth, the divine meets the human».
The cells of the Carthusian monastery, located along the perimeter of the large cloister, have much more impressive size compared to the cells of Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries. This is due to the fact that Carthusian monks spend almost all their time in their homes, leaving them only three times a day to participate in worship in the church. Therefore, the cell is the place where the Carthusian spends most of his life. Being isolated from the rest of the monastery complex, it embodies the idea of seclusion within a retreat. In addition to the common wall surrounding the monastery, each cell and even the adjacent garden are completely separated by walls from other cells and rooms.
All the activities of a monk take place within the confines of his cell. In it he prays, engages in craft activities, reads, meditates, sleeps and eats. With the exception of joint meals held on holidays, the monks eat exclusively in their homes. As a rule, food is taken twice a day - a fairly hearty lunch and a modest dinner. And during Great monastic Lent, which lasts from September 14, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, until Easter, the Carthusians limit themselves to lunch only. Converse brothers (secular brothers who take only part of the monastic vows and remain laymen in status), responsible for distributing food, deliver lunches and dinners to the cells, passing the food through the windows located next to the entrance to the cell.
This window is designed in such a way that the monk cannot even meet his brother-convert with his eyes. The shutters of this window should not be open on both sides at the same time, so that the innermost spirit of seclusion and solitude is not disturbed in any way. A reclusive monk can, if necessary, leave a note in the window asking for what he needs, and this request will be granted in the near future. This idea of a window through which a converse brother passes food to a monk goes back to the story of St. Paul the Hermit (249 - 341), the first Egyptian hermit, who lived almost his entire life in complete solitude. It is known that Saint Paul was fed by a raven sent by God, who brought him a piece of bread every day.
The Carthusian cell is actually a small two-story house with everything you need. Downstairs there is a workshop-laboratory with a lathe and various tools, as well as a woodshed where firewood for the stove is stored.
These rooms overlook a tiny vegetable garden, which is cultivated by each monk at his own discretion, but always with great care and painstaking care.
On the top floor there is special room, the so-called “Ave Maria”, with the image Holy Virgin, to which the monk turns in prayer, kneeling each time. Next comes another room - the real heart of the cell. This room is intended for prayer, reflection, and reading. The monk spends most of his time in it. This is where the recluse sleeps. The chambers are equipped with a simple bed, a table for eating and studying, as well as a place for reading prayers - a small chapel - with a bench for kneeling. The wood-burning stove is used for heating during severe cold weather, and is heated with wood that the monk prepares for himself and stores in the woodshed.
The window of the room, as a rule, overlooks the garden, and the recluse can admire the beauty of nature while sitting at his desk. " The view from the window was the only luxury that even the strictest ascetics allowed into their lives."- wrote Russian historian and art critic of the early 20th century Pavel Muratov.
Reading, studying written sources, working in the garden and lathe- important components of the life of a monk, which allow you to avoid the worst enemy of a lonely life - idleness. Physical labor necessary to maintain health and physical fitness, appropriately alternates with mental labor and spiritual reflection.
At the sound of a bell, as if by magic, each in his own cell, but all together at the same time, the hermits raise their prayers to heaven. Then, also in unison, at the ringing of the bell calling for Matins, Vespers, the cells open, and their inhabitants pass the cloister in complete silence, heading to the church for a joint service.
Sometimes, with the permission of the abbot, a monk can visit the library or his spiritual father. However, the rest of the time the hermit prefers to remain in the peace and quiet of his cell, devoting his life to waiting for a meeting with God in blissful solitude. Anyone who has the experience of an internal conversation with the Almighty, who has tasted the wonderful fruits of a solitary life, does not even feel the desire to leave his cell. For him, the cell is his fortress, his citadel, in which he not only feels safe, but in which he feels himself to be halfway to God.
The life of hermit monks, their ascetic feat in silence has always aroused genuine, undisguised interest. The grandeur and charm of the hermitage gave rise to and still gives rise to in many what one Carthusian defined as “the temptation of a desert island.” Theologian, professor of the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome Robert Chaib in his book “Standing Before God. Embodied Spirituality” tells an interesting story that could be called a parable. One young man, interested in the life of hermit monks, decided to test himself in this role. However, very soon he realized that he was oppressed by the “deafening” silence in which the life of the hermits proceeds, consisting of a strictly scheduled alternation of chants, prayers and physical labor. What surprised him most of all was the imperturbable calm that radiated from the monk’s face even at that moment when, for example, he was weaving baskets. It was quite obvious that even while carrying out this monotonous mechanical work, the monk offered his prayers to God. The young man asked for an audience with the abbot. Sitting in front of the abbot, he told him his doubts: “I came to your monastery in search of peace and quiet. I wanted to understand the secret of your radiant, joyful peace. But, I admit, the few days I spent within the walls of the monastery left me completely confused. Your life is so simple and unpretentious. I’ll be honest with you and apologize for my words, but such a life seems empty and boring to me. Explain to me what could be interesting in this silence.” The monk listened to him carefully. Then, without saying anything, he took him by the hand and led him to the well, which was located next to the cell. He threw a stone into the well and asked young man: “Look down and tell me what you see there?” “I see breakers and ripples on the surface of the water,” the young man answered frankly. After some time, the monk asked him again: “Now what do you see?” “I see the surface of the water and the reflection of my face,” he said in bewilderment. “Take a closer look. What else do you see? - the ascetic did not lag behind. The young man looked down intently and exclaimed, overwhelmed with embarrassment and joy at his discovery: “I see the face of heaven reflected there.”
Anastasia Tatarnikova
Based on materials kindly provided by Roberto Sabatinelli.
Illustrative material: www. cartusialover.wordpress.com
