Hieromonk (Greek: Ἱερομόναχος, Ieromonachos; Slavonic: Ieromonakh, Romanian: Ieromonah, also called a Priestmonk, is a monk who is also a priest in Eastern Orthodox Christianity.
A hieromonk can be either a monk who has been ordained to the priesthood, or a priest who has received monastic tonsure.
Ordination to the priesthood is the exception rather than the rule for monastics, but is still more common than a priest entering monastic life, as only married men or monks are ordained priests.
In the Church hierarchy, a hieromonk is of higher dignity than a hierodeacon, just as a secular (i.e., married) priest is of higher dignity than a deacon. Within their own ranks, hieromonks are assigned order of precedence according to the date of their ordination. Ranking above Hieromonk is a Hegumen and an Archimandrite.
In some countries, married clergy are referred to as "white clergy" while monastic clergy are called "black clergy" because monks should always wear black clothing but married clergy in many parts of the world typically wear white (or gray or colored) cassocks and rasons.
The proper title for a Hieromonk is, "the Reverend Hieromonk (name)" The form of address is, "Hieromonk (name)", "Father Hieromonk (name)", "Father (name)", or, informally, "Father".
In Western Christianity, a priest who is also a monk is termed a "religious priest".
See also
References
- This article incorporates material from the public domain 1906 Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary.
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