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(Redirected from Anchoress)
'Anchorite' (male)/'anchoress' (female), from the Greek anachōreō, signifying "to withdraw", "to depart into the rural countryside", denotes someone who, for religious reasons, withdraws from secular society and leads an intensely prayer-oriented and, circumstances permitting, Eucharist-focused life.
Anchorites are usually considered to be a type of religious hermit[1], living a solitary monastic life, but it is important to retain a clear distinction between the two: whereas a hermit normally withdraws into a truly remote place and shuns most daily contact with other people, anchorites tend to withdraw to cells closely connected to public churches and are often available for religious counsel while still maintaining a solitary style of life.
The life of the anchorite became most widespread during the early and high Middle Ages. Anchorites and anchoresses of the Middle Ages usually built a simple cell in which to dwell against one wall of the local village church. The wall was penetrated by a small, shuttered window facing the body of the church, so the anchoress or anchorite could observe Mass and be passed trays of food. There was often also a barred window facing the outside world, where the solitary could provide advice and counsel to visitors, as these men and women gained a reputation for wisdom. Anchorites never left their abode, ate frugal meals, and spent their days in contemplative prayer.
Some anchoresses, on the other hand, became the founts of gossip for their communities and knew everything that was going on in the village, either by being told or observing it. Many churches were centrally located, and someone walled into the side of one, constantly watching, would see much.
One very well known anchoress is Julian of Norwich, a Medieval solitary who has left a lasting impression on Christian spirituality thanks to her writings. Also extremely significant for her impact upon Church history and Christian mystical spirituality is anchoress Catherine of Siena.
In the Roman Catholic Church today anchorites, after making a public profession of vows of the three evangelical counsels in the hands of their diocesan bishop, are officially recognised as living a consecrated life (canon 603), just as other monks and members of religious orders are. Although there are a few people who have revived the life of the hermit under vows within the Church, the life of anchorites has not undergone a similar revival.
★ Hermit
★ Cenobitic
★ Book of the First Monks
1. BBB Radio 4: Making History – Anchorites
★ anchorite?
★ Chapter 1 of ''The Rule of Saint Benedict'' re: Anchorites
★ The History of Mount Athos During the Byzantine Age
★ ''The Way of an Anchoress''
★ The Case for an Anchorhold at the Church of St Mary & All Saints in Willingham, Cambridgeshire
★ Anchorite Cell at St Luke's Church in Duston
★ Marsha, ''Anchoritic Spirituality in Medieval England: The Form, the Substance, the Rule''
★ Rotha Mary Clay, ''The Hermits and Anchorites of England'', Chapter VII: ''Anchorites in Church and Cloister''
★ Note on the ''Ancrene Riwle''
★ Select reading list
★ ''Ancrene Wisse'' ("eets e-editions")
★ ''Ancrene Wisse, Introduction''
★ anchorite?
★ Text of canon 603 of ''The Code of Canon Law'' (1983, Latin edition) re: Anchorites as members of the Consecrated Life in the Catholic Church
★ Text of canon 603 of ''The Code of Canon Law'' (1983, English translation) re: Anchorites as members of the Consecrated Life in the Catholic Church
Anchorite's cell in Skipton
'Anchorite' (male)/'anchoress' (female), from the Greek anachōreō, signifying "to withdraw", "to depart into the rural countryside", denotes someone who, for religious reasons, withdraws from secular society and leads an intensely prayer-oriented and, circumstances permitting, Eucharist-focused life.
Anchorites are usually considered to be a type of religious hermit[1], living a solitary monastic life, but it is important to retain a clear distinction between the two: whereas a hermit normally withdraws into a truly remote place and shuns most daily contact with other people, anchorites tend to withdraw to cells closely connected to public churches and are often available for religious counsel while still maintaining a solitary style of life.
The life of the anchorite became most widespread during the early and high Middle Ages. Anchorites and anchoresses of the Middle Ages usually built a simple cell in which to dwell against one wall of the local village church. The wall was penetrated by a small, shuttered window facing the body of the church, so the anchoress or anchorite could observe Mass and be passed trays of food. There was often also a barred window facing the outside world, where the solitary could provide advice and counsel to visitors, as these men and women gained a reputation for wisdom. Anchorites never left their abode, ate frugal meals, and spent their days in contemplative prayer.
Some anchoresses, on the other hand, became the founts of gossip for their communities and knew everything that was going on in the village, either by being told or observing it. Many churches were centrally located, and someone walled into the side of one, constantly watching, would see much.
One very well known anchoress is Julian of Norwich, a Medieval solitary who has left a lasting impression on Christian spirituality thanks to her writings. Also extremely significant for her impact upon Church history and Christian mystical spirituality is anchoress Catherine of Siena.
In the Roman Catholic Church today anchorites, after making a public profession of vows of the three evangelical counsels in the hands of their diocesan bishop, are officially recognised as living a consecrated life (canon 603), just as other monks and members of religious orders are. Although there are a few people who have revived the life of the hermit under vows within the Church, the life of anchorites has not undergone a similar revival.
| Contents |
| See also |
| External links |
See also
★ Hermit
★ Cenobitic
★ Book of the First Monks
External links
1. BBB Radio 4: Making History – Anchorites
★ anchorite?
★ Chapter 1 of ''The Rule of Saint Benedict'' re: Anchorites
★ The History of Mount Athos During the Byzantine Age
★ ''The Way of an Anchoress''
★ The Case for an Anchorhold at the Church of St Mary & All Saints in Willingham, Cambridgeshire
★ Anchorite Cell at St Luke's Church in Duston
★ Marsha, ''Anchoritic Spirituality in Medieval England: The Form, the Substance, the Rule''
★ Rotha Mary Clay, ''The Hermits and Anchorites of England'', Chapter VII: ''Anchorites in Church and Cloister''
★ Note on the ''Ancrene Riwle''
★ Select reading list
★ ''Ancrene Wisse'' ("eets e-editions")
★ ''Ancrene Wisse, Introduction''
★ anchorite?
★ Text of canon 603 of ''The Code of Canon Law'' (1983, Latin edition) re: Anchorites as members of the Consecrated Life in the Catholic Church
★ Text of canon 603 of ''The Code of Canon Law'' (1983, English translation) re: Anchorites as members of the Consecrated Life in the Catholic Church
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