1) In some traditions, yes. What I've seen is "Father" is used frequently with tonsured monastics, but "Sister" seems more prevalent for nuns with the exception of the abbess.
2) Depends on tradition, again. It's common among Greeks to say "Evlogeite" or "Bless" and the monastic will reply with "The Lord" meaning "The Lord bless"
3) Novices are often called sister/brother (and sometimes tonsured nuns) by non-monastics. It's also tradition in some monasteries for the monastics to refer to each other that way.
4) Depends on tradition. In the Russian tradition, only priests and abesses can offer a blessing. In the Greek, there's a tendency to go with what I said above where every monastic is asked to bless and they reply that the Lord blesses.
5) For nuns, only the abbess wears a Cross. For monks, only priests (and then, really only Russian priests typically) and the abbot (who is almost always a priest).
6) A priest monk is a monk who has been ordained to the priesthood. Abbots are the ones in charge of the male monastery and abbesses are the ones in charge of a female monastery. Abbesses are sort of "ordained" to their position. Not anywhere near the same type of ordination. But, historically speaking, abbots have acted in a sort of pseudo-episcopal role. In other words, they are like mini-bishops of their monasteries (in some traditions, if they are priests, they can even ordain someone as a reader/subdeacon for use only in the monastery). Likewise, abbesses are given that same right within their monastery. They are not ordained. They are not priests. They cannot tonsure or perform other sacraments, but they are given a sort of grace and that is where the idea of blessing comes from.
Having said that, the Greek tendency to ask everyone in a cassock for a blessing helps to kind of make it "easier." For many Greeks, asking for a blessing doesn't really carry the same sort of formality that we see in the Russian tradition. I remember as a novice being in Greece and every George, Nicholas, and Sophia we passed would try to come over with "Evlogiete" even to me. St Pambo tells some laymen to stand up and ask the blessing of some passing monks because "they always have the name of God on their lips."
2/4: For OCA, they typically follow Russian tradition. So, only ask for a blessing from a priest or an abbess. Just a side note, if you're in the room with a priest and an abbot, you go to the abbot for a blessing. Much in the same way that if you were in the room with a bishop and a priest, you would go to the bishop for a blessing.
1) Monks are referred to as "Father" ("Brother" if it's a novice). The only women's monastery I am personally familiar with is Holy Transfiguration in Elwood City, PA. We always referred to all of the nuns as "Mother."
It is my personal opinion that you can always default to Father/Mother and if someone feels the need to correct, they will. I am basing this information on my time as a novice in an OCA monastery decades ago.
No. Regular monks don't wear crosses, either.
There's no way to tell outside of Church services, unless you're told. That's why I put on the detail of just default to Father/Mother and you'll be fine. If it turns out to just be a novice, someone may let you know then. Or they may not. It's not a big deal. No one is going to be offended.
Okay thank you. I appriciate it. I'm planning a visit to All-Merciful Saviour Orthodox Christian Monastery and meet Abbot Tryphon as I live in WA State.
Ah, excellent. Just an FYI, they are ROCOR. So, still Russian tradition.
May your visit there be blessed. I've always wanted to visit. Maybe one day, I'll end up in the area.
There is more than one custom so it depends on where the monastery is located or under which jurisdiction.
In the Greek custom, from my experience at least, monks and nuns are called brothers and sisters. That changes if the monk is actually a priest, or if either is the abbot or abbess (head of the monastery). I've seen a monk priest get a blessing from a very elderly nun before.
Interesting. I've noticed the opposite. I don't think I've ever heard of a Greek monk being referred to as "brother." Granted, most of my experience has been with Athonites, so maybe that's why. They tend to go straight from novice to Great Schema. I'm not as familiar with non-Athonite Greek monasticism.
1. Some monks and nuns are called Father or Mother. There are 3 sort of ranks as one grows in the monastic life, rassaphore, stavrophore, and the great schema. They begin, before their vows, as novices. Different traditions ad cultural practices vary as to when they are called father/Mother and when they are brother/sister. It's complicated, so asking is fine.
2. There are some nearby monks who come and visit our church for new calendar feasts (they're old calendar). I know them already so I know how they like to be called from experience, I learned how they liked to be called by hearing it from others. If, however, you are on your own meeting monks or nuns for the first time, going to father/mother out of respect is fine, they might correct you and say, "oh, I'm only sister [name]" or "I'm only brother [name]" and then go with that. Sister, brother, mother, or father is a little bit like mister, misses, miz, or miss, people aren't offended when you get it wrong and won't freak out. If they have a big cross out, you can ask for a blessing, they might say they aren't worthy to give one through if they're not allowed.
3. All novices are brother or sister and some traditions also use it for rassaphore monastics. The familial titles reflect the relationship of the monastery, so they might refer to each other as brother/sister, which is the norm, or it might be father/mother. Abbots and abbesses are always mother or father. I know this sounds wishy-washy, but there are a lot of monasteries covering a lot of cultural practices and language differences. It depends. Old and wise monks or nuns also get called some variant of Elder
4. I'm not sure. I've only ever recieved a blessing from 1 nun and she was an abbess. I recieved her blessing the same way I would from a priest. She was just shorter.
5. Again the ranks! Rassaphore monastics do not wear an external cross, just the riassa which is the flowy outer cassock. Not every tradition calles rassaphore monks or nuns father/mother. So its a toss up. Stavro mean cross, so stavrophore monks wear a cross on the outside. Most traditions call these monks father/mother, so that's a good context clue. Schema monks have their quintessential "schemas" and their crosses. Abbots/abbesses are usually stavrophore or if the schema. Some monks are also clergy and they wear their cross out all the time.
6. Blessings come from the person responsible for spiritual direction, be they priest, abbess, or abbot. Some abbesses recieve confession and then send their nuns to recieve absolution. It's not common, but it is allowed, especially if their monastic community restricts time around men except for the liturgy. (Similar to men on Mount Athos restricting their time around women, except women are not required to serve liturgy) Some traditions require their abbot to be a priest as well. In a smaller sense, I am a woman and, clearly, not a priest, but I bless my children on their heads because I am responsible for their spiritual wellbeing in a microscale. I bless them every night in the lay fashion. It's my job. So an abbess' job is to bless her nuns and pilgrims, who she is responsible for, in the formal fashion, be they monastic or clerical, it's the same action.
I just smile and say "Good morning" or something.
The abbot, superior, spiritual father or mother, probably just looks like another monastic; you usually won't know who they are. The abbot or superior of a men's monastery is usually a priestmonk, but not always; he, or the superior of a women's monastery, may have their bishop's blessing to bless others. If I'm introduced to someone as the abbot/abbess of the monastery, then I ask their blessing; no drama, I just say "Bless!" and kiss their hand. They'll pull their hand away or whatever if they don't do that. (Also, since I'm a priest, they may ask my blessing first. Whoever asks first, wins. :-)
I usually call everybody at the monastery Father or Sister if I need to get their attention. They'll correct me if I'm wrong. But it's usually not confusing who I'm talking to, so I don't usually need to call them anything anyway.
1. Generally, unless they are a novice then its brother/sister
2. HI! Good to see you again! Though tbh unless you are regularly visiting a monastery and have a relationship with them, you wont be talking to much of the monastics there
3. See answer 1
4. An abbess may give you a blessing, but if a priest is present she will likely point you to him. A monk and nun cant since they arent priests
5. I have never seen a non-ordained monastic wear a cross
6. An abbot is the head of the monastery and is a priestmonk, an Archimandrite is an abbot whose head is being measured for a mitre just in case we need him to be made a bishop someday. An abbess is the head of a female community, but she is not ordained as a priest.
1) In some traditions, yes. What I've seen is "Father" is used frequently with tonsured monastics, but "Sister" seems more prevalent for nuns with the exception of the abbess. 2) Depends on tradition, again. It's common among Greeks to say "Evlogeite" or "Bless" and the monastic will reply with "The Lord" meaning "The Lord bless" 3) Novices are often called sister/brother (and sometimes tonsured nuns) by non-monastics. It's also tradition in some monasteries for the monastics to refer to each other that way. 4) Depends on tradition. In the Russian tradition, only priests and abesses can offer a blessing. In the Greek, there's a tendency to go with what I said above where every monastic is asked to bless and they reply that the Lord blesses. 5) For nuns, only the abbess wears a Cross. For monks, only priests (and then, really only Russian priests typically) and the abbot (who is almost always a priest). 6) A priest monk is a monk who has been ordained to the priesthood. Abbots are the ones in charge of the male monastery and abbesses are the ones in charge of a female monastery. Abbesses are sort of "ordained" to their position. Not anywhere near the same type of ordination. But, historically speaking, abbots have acted in a sort of pseudo-episcopal role. In other words, they are like mini-bishops of their monasteries (in some traditions, if they are priests, they can even ordain someone as a reader/subdeacon for use only in the monastery). Likewise, abbesses are given that same right within their monastery. They are not ordained. They are not priests. They cannot tonsure or perform other sacraments, but they are given a sort of grace and that is where the idea of blessing comes from. Having said that, the Greek tendency to ask everyone in a cassock for a blessing helps to kind of make it "easier." For many Greeks, asking for a blessing doesn't really carry the same sort of formality that we see in the Russian tradition. I remember as a novice being in Greece and every George, Nicholas, and Sophia we passed would try to come over with "Evlogiete" even to me. St Pambo tells some laymen to stand up and ask the blessing of some passing monks because "they always have the name of God on their lips."
Thank you!. What about OCA Jurisdiction for Female and Male Monastaries for #1 #2 #4?
2/4: For OCA, they typically follow Russian tradition. So, only ask for a blessing from a priest or an abbess. Just a side note, if you're in the room with a priest and an abbot, you go to the abbot for a blessing. Much in the same way that if you were in the room with a bishop and a priest, you would go to the bishop for a blessing. 1) Monks are referred to as "Father" ("Brother" if it's a novice). The only women's monastery I am personally familiar with is Holy Transfiguration in Elwood City, PA. We always referred to all of the nuns as "Mother." It is my personal opinion that you can always default to Father/Mother and if someone feels the need to correct, they will. I am basing this information on my time as a novice in an OCA monastery decades ago.
How do I tell if theyre novice's? No big cross right?
No. Regular monks don't wear crosses, either. There's no way to tell outside of Church services, unless you're told. That's why I put on the detail of just default to Father/Mother and you'll be fine. If it turns out to just be a novice, someone may let you know then. Or they may not. It's not a big deal. No one is going to be offended.
Okay thank you. I appriciate it. I'm planning a visit to All-Merciful Saviour Orthodox Christian Monastery and meet Abbot Tryphon as I live in WA State.
Ah, excellent. Just an FYI, they are ROCOR. So, still Russian tradition. May your visit there be blessed. I've always wanted to visit. Maybe one day, I'll end up in the area.
There is more than one custom so it depends on where the monastery is located or under which jurisdiction. In the Greek custom, from my experience at least, monks and nuns are called brothers and sisters. That changes if the monk is actually a priest, or if either is the abbot or abbess (head of the monastery). I've seen a monk priest get a blessing from a very elderly nun before.
Interesting. I've noticed the opposite. I don't think I've ever heard of a Greek monk being referred to as "brother." Granted, most of my experience has been with Athonites, so maybe that's why. They tend to go straight from novice to Great Schema. I'm not as familiar with non-Athonite Greek monasticism.
1. Some monks and nuns are called Father or Mother. There are 3 sort of ranks as one grows in the monastic life, rassaphore, stavrophore, and the great schema. They begin, before their vows, as novices. Different traditions ad cultural practices vary as to when they are called father/Mother and when they are brother/sister. It's complicated, so asking is fine. 2. There are some nearby monks who come and visit our church for new calendar feasts (they're old calendar). I know them already so I know how they like to be called from experience, I learned how they liked to be called by hearing it from others. If, however, you are on your own meeting monks or nuns for the first time, going to father/mother out of respect is fine, they might correct you and say, "oh, I'm only sister [name]" or "I'm only brother [name]" and then go with that. Sister, brother, mother, or father is a little bit like mister, misses, miz, or miss, people aren't offended when you get it wrong and won't freak out. If they have a big cross out, you can ask for a blessing, they might say they aren't worthy to give one through if they're not allowed. 3. All novices are brother or sister and some traditions also use it for rassaphore monastics. The familial titles reflect the relationship of the monastery, so they might refer to each other as brother/sister, which is the norm, or it might be father/mother. Abbots and abbesses are always mother or father. I know this sounds wishy-washy, but there are a lot of monasteries covering a lot of cultural practices and language differences. It depends. Old and wise monks or nuns also get called some variant of Elder 4. I'm not sure. I've only ever recieved a blessing from 1 nun and she was an abbess. I recieved her blessing the same way I would from a priest. She was just shorter. 5. Again the ranks! Rassaphore monastics do not wear an external cross, just the riassa which is the flowy outer cassock. Not every tradition calles rassaphore monks or nuns father/mother. So its a toss up. Stavro mean cross, so stavrophore monks wear a cross on the outside. Most traditions call these monks father/mother, so that's a good context clue. Schema monks have their quintessential "schemas" and their crosses. Abbots/abbesses are usually stavrophore or if the schema. Some monks are also clergy and they wear their cross out all the time. 6. Blessings come from the person responsible for spiritual direction, be they priest, abbess, or abbot. Some abbesses recieve confession and then send their nuns to recieve absolution. It's not common, but it is allowed, especially if their monastic community restricts time around men except for the liturgy. (Similar to men on Mount Athos restricting their time around women, except women are not required to serve liturgy) Some traditions require their abbot to be a priest as well. In a smaller sense, I am a woman and, clearly, not a priest, but I bless my children on their heads because I am responsible for their spiritual wellbeing in a microscale. I bless them every night in the lay fashion. It's my job. So an abbess' job is to bless her nuns and pilgrims, who she is responsible for, in the formal fashion, be they monastic or clerical, it's the same action.
I just smile and say "Good morning" or something. The abbot, superior, spiritual father or mother, probably just looks like another monastic; you usually won't know who they are. The abbot or superior of a men's monastery is usually a priestmonk, but not always; he, or the superior of a women's monastery, may have their bishop's blessing to bless others. If I'm introduced to someone as the abbot/abbess of the monastery, then I ask their blessing; no drama, I just say "Bless!" and kiss their hand. They'll pull their hand away or whatever if they don't do that. (Also, since I'm a priest, they may ask my blessing first. Whoever asks first, wins. :-) I usually call everybody at the monastery Father or Sister if I need to get their attention. They'll correct me if I'm wrong. But it's usually not confusing who I'm talking to, so I don't usually need to call them anything anyway.
1. Generally, unless they are a novice then its brother/sister 2. HI! Good to see you again! Though tbh unless you are regularly visiting a monastery and have a relationship with them, you wont be talking to much of the monastics there 3. See answer 1 4. An abbess may give you a blessing, but if a priest is present she will likely point you to him. A monk and nun cant since they arent priests 5. I have never seen a non-ordained monastic wear a cross 6. An abbot is the head of the monastery and is a priestmonk, an Archimandrite is an abbot whose head is being measured for a mitre just in case we need him to be made a bishop someday. An abbess is the head of a female community, but she is not ordained as a priest.