Monastic cell

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Cell of Saint Teresa de Ávila in the convent of Saint Joseph

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 communities cenobitic monasticism such as Catholic and Orthodox monasteries and 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]

In Christianity[]

Sketch of a monk's cell in the Grande Chartreuse

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.

Dormitory at the Monastery Filotheou on Mount Athos

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[]

See also: Monastery § Buddhism

In Buddhism vihara is often restricted to the rainy season and the vihara retreat.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Cell at Merriam Websters Dictionary.com.
  2. ^ Cell at dictionary.reference.com.
  3. ^ cell at Oxford Dictionaries.
  4. ^ St Pauls Monastery Egypt.
  5. ^ 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, Ind., 2008) p15.

External links[]

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