Ascetics in Orthodox Christianity often sought solitude, moving away from worldly life. In other words, they became monks, because even the word "monk" is related to the word mono - one.
Instruction manual
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The life of a monk differs radically from the life of a layman: leaving the monastery means giving up all property, the opportunity to start a family, and engage in worldly affairs. The whole existence of a monk from the moment of tonsure revolves around two types of activity: obedience and prayer.
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That is why the adoption of monasticism precedes a long preparatory period - the period of obedience. This period the layman spends in the monastery, works and prays with the brethren, learning to live away from the world. If the novice does not lose the desire for a monastic life, he takes the tonsure.
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There are three varieties of monks' lifestyles: dormitory, hermitage, and herding. A hostel is living in a monastery as a joint compound, when the brethren work, live and fulfill the prayer rule together.
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Hermit is the complete solitude of a monk, in this case a person separates from the monastery, leaves to live in places far from the world where he is obedient in almost complete absence of living conditions, food, and material wealth.
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Wandering is the joint obedience of two or three monks, they live as a separate compound, working together, independently providing themselves with everything necessary.
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Each way of life leaves a certain imprint on the features of the life and existence of monks. However, in all cases, the daily routine of the minister is very tense. The rest and sleep time according to the monastic charter does not exceed 6-7 hours: 4-5 hours at night and 1-2 hours in the afternoon. The cornerstone of everyday life is the prayer rule: from cell prayer alone to joint prayers in temples.
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The brothers spend their free time from prayers in the so-called obedience - works aimed at maintaining the monastery and providing it with everything necessary, because most monasteries are fully self-sufficient.
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The living conditions of the monastery differ depending on the location of the monastery and the severity of the charter. In monasteries located near major cities, moments of secular life, such as mobile communications, the Internet, and news of everyday life, flow into the life of monks to a certain extent.
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In remote monasteries, life is so secluded that even information about events in the country and the world seeps in extremely rarely. It is believed that the more distant the monastery, the stricter the charter of the monastery, the less interference of secular life in monastic service, the better the monk performs his feat of service to people and God.
