Distinguishing an Abbey from a Monastery

Abbey and monasteries are religious structures in Christianity that can be difficult to define, even for those who follow the faith. This is due to the many similarities between the two, leading some to believe that the terms are synonymous and can be used interchangeably. However, there are subtle differences between these two structures.

An abbey is derived from the Latin word “abbatia” or Aramaic “abba,” which means father. It is a sacred structure as it is the residence of the Abbot, a spiritual leader of the Christian community in a particular place. An abbey may also be called a monastery or a convent in many places. A structure is called an abbey when it has been granted the stature by the holy church of Italy. Thus, a Catholic convent when it is resided and supervised by an Abbot or an Abbess begins to be called an abbey. In general, a structure resided by monks or priests and used for worship and daily chores by these religious men is referred to as an abbey. Different abbeys are used for different purposes by priests, and besides living, there could be training or even grooming of young priests inside an abbey.

A monastery is a house or structure that is used by monks, hermits, monastics, or nuns to live. The word has been derived from a Greek word “monazein” which means to live alone. The word has been used to refer to the habitat of religious people who live away from common people. Monastery is a word that is commonly used in countries where Buddhism is followed to refer to residences or Viharas of religious men or women. In many places, monasteries mean temples. They are called gompa in Tibet while “wat” is the word used in East Asian countries like Thailand and Laos.

In terms of Christianity, a monastery can be an abbey, a nunnery, or a priory. In Hinduism, a monastery can be roughly equated with a matha or an ashram and not a temple. In Jainism, a monastery is a vihara where Jain monks or priests live.

Key Takeaways

• An abbey is a sacred structure that serves as the residence of the Abbot, a spiritual leader of the Christian community in a particular place.
• A monastery is a house or structure that is used by monks, hermits, monastics, or nuns to live, and it is derived from the Greek word “monazein” which means to live alone.
• An abbey is a monastery, but not all monasteries are abbeys; an abbey is granted its title by the holy church of Italy.