Monastery facts for kids
Monasteries are places where monks live. Although the word "monastery" is sometimes used for a place where nuns live, nuns usually live in a convent or nunnery. The word abbey (from the Syriac word abba: father) is also used for a Christian monastery or convent. The monk in charge of an abbey is called an abbot; the nun in charge of an abbey is an abbess.
Several religions have a system of monasteries. Christian monasteries have a chapel for the monks to worship. Monks are not allowed to marry (celibacy). They are also not allowed to own anything. Everything they use, including their clothes, belongs to the monastery. During the Middle Ages after the Roman Empire was defeated, monasteries were some of the few places where knowledge still existed.
Some monasteries were built in places far away from where other people lived. The monks who live there live very isolated lives, growing their own food and looking after one another. Other monasteries were in or near towns. Monks do a lot of work in the community, including as teaching, medical care or telling people about God. Few monks live isolated lives nowadays.
Images for kids
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Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain. Built in 1563–1584.
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Gračanica Monastery, Kosovo.
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The Plan of Saint Gall, the ground plan of an unbuilt abbey, providing for all of the needs of the monks within the confines of the monastery walls
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Asta Nørregaard: Christmas Night Mass celebrated in a French Nunnery (1889)
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Buckfast Abbey, Devon, England, and its surrounding monastery, were rebuilt in the 20th century.
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Hindu matha, Vidyasankara Temple
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Parakala Mutt - as it stands today
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Ukhra Nimbarka Peeth Mahanta Asthal
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Part of Ganden Monastery, Tibet in 1921. Tsongkhapa's tomb is in the center left.
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Tango Monastery, Bhutan
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Mor Gabriel Monastery was founded in 397 by Mor Shmu'el and his student Mor Shem'un.
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The Mor Hananyo Monastery, one of the many monasteries of Mount Izla
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Monastery of Saint Athanasius, Bulgaria, was the first Christian monastery established in Europe in 344.
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Monasterio de San Francisco in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, was the first and oldest monastery built in the Americas.
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The Monastery of Santa María del Parral of the Hieronymites monks in Segovia, Spain
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Passionist Monastery in Monte Argentario, Tuscany, Italy
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Bassac Abbey (12th -18th centuries), Bassac, Charente, France
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Saint Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai, early 6th century.
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Simonopetra monastery on Mount Athos
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Rila monastery in Bulgaria, UNESCO World Heritage Site
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Manasija monastery in central Serbia
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Pühtitsa Convent in Estonia from 19th century
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Dayro d-Mor Mattai was founded in 363 by the hermit Mar Mattai who had fled persecution in Amid under the Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate.
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Debre Damo was founded in the 6th century in Ethiopia.
See also
In Spanish: Monasterio para niños
