What is a cell?

word "cell" is somehow itself conjures up images of monks, monasteries and icons.The way of life of people who have renounced worldly concerns, not always understandable layman.However, not being understood does not mean to be uninteresting.On the contrary, most curious to know how they live, those who dedicated his life to God, what to eat and even watch any TV.Let's try to break into the home of the monk, to look at his life and to understand what the cell.

etymology

word "cell" is borrowed from the Greek (κελλίον) and Latin (cella), later found use in Old Church Slavonic, means literally "room".In English, you can also find consonant cell, which means "the camera (in prison) cell."Multiple dictionaries in basically the same way interpret what the cell.The definition of the word: a separate room or area where inhabits a monk or nun.Here, members of the monastic community spend a significant part of his life, sleep and indulge in prayer.In a figurative sense it is a small intimate room of modest single person.

How does the cell

Not everyone is that this cell.In the classic sense is a separate room in a residential part of the monastery.However, there is not always one person can live.Simultaneously cell can become a haven to several monks.Sometimes it can be even a separate small house.In Russian monasteries every monk or nun has allowed the construction of its own cells, so that community members from wealthy families could be in use spacious and quite comfortable room.But for individual examples to judge what the cell, yet will not.The vast majority of this modest dwelling, where only the bare necessities, no frills.Staying here is to bring the inmate spiritual benefit.

Appointment cells

many monasteries in the Charter could include special provision "On the Exclusionary stay."First of all, it is the place of performance of prayer, spiritual reading, and highly moral literature, writing out of books and thinking wise edifying thoughts.There is a list of recommended reading for ascetic writings.In his room the monks as obediences perform tasks that they were assigned to the rector or superiors.Also, an understanding of what the cell will not quite be complete if we did not mention one important point.Visitors to the monastery monks are allowed only with the blessing of the highest authorities, the women stay in the cells monasteries and males, respectively, in women is prohibited.