Philosophy:Monastic cell
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A cell is a small room used by a hermit, monk, nun or anchorite to live and as a devotional space. Cells are often part of larger cenobitic monastic communities such as Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and Orthodox Christian monasteries, as well as Buddhist vihara,[1] but may also form stand-alone structures in remote locations. The word cell comes from the Old French celle meaning a monastic cell, itself from the Latin meaning "room",[2] "store room" or "chamber".[3]
Usually, a cell is small and contains a minimum of furnishings. It may be an individual living space in a building or a hermit's primitive solitary living space, possibly a cave or hut in a remote location. A small dependent or daughter house of a major monastery, sometimes housing just one or two monks or nuns, may also be termed a cell.
The first cells were in the Nitrian Desert in Egypt following the ministry of Paul of Thebes,[4] Serapion, and Anthony the Great.[5] in the mid 3rd century.
In some orders, such as the Trappists, the monks or nuns do not have cells but sleep in a large room called a dormitory. In eremitic orders like the Carthusians, the room called cell usually has the size and look of a small house with a separate garden.
Buddhism
In Buddhism, a vihara was a living arrangement similar to a Christian monastery. The term "kuti" is also used.[6]
See also
- Kathisma
- Skete
- Poustinia in Orthodox Christianity
- Therapeutae in Judaism
- Lavra
References
- ↑ Cell at Merriam Websters Dictionary.com.
- ↑ Cell at dictionary.reference.com.
- ↑ cell at Oxford Dictionaries.
- ↑ St Pauls Monastery Egypt.
- ↑ Chryssavgis, John; Ware, Kallistos; Ward, Benedicta, In the Heart of the Desert: Revised Edition The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers (World Wisdom Bloomington, Indiana ., 2008) p15.
- ↑ https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kuti
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