Cenobite Research Paper

Traditionally, monastic rules were written to regulate the lives of monks living in a coenobium (community). The kind of monks that live in communities are called cenobites which are the focus of RB. Their regulation is its purpose. To clarify why RB is written for cenobites, Benedict discusses four types of monks with descriptions of each. The four kinds of monks being: the cenobites, that is those who belong to a monastery, where they serve under a rule and an abbot; anchorites (or hermits) who have already persevered in the cenobitic life of the monastery; sarabaites, who have forsaken the monastery and essentially make up the rules as they go; and the gyrovagues who are wanderers and “slaves to their own wills and gross appetites. In every way they are worse than the sarabaites” (RB 1.1-11). …show more content…
Cassian holds that the cenobites originated in apostolic times rendering them the oldest known monks, and a continuation of the truest form of Christian life described in the book of Acts:
The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all. There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need (Acts