What role does an abbot play in the church?

Answer 1

In Christianity, an Abbot is the leading monk of an abbey or monastery. Abbeys and monasteries are communities of monks -- men who have dedicated their lives to God through the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and in light of the charism, or Rule, of the founding Saint. The most famous and pervasive Monastic Order is the Benedictine Order, which derives from the teachings of St. Benedict, father of Western Monasticism.

The Abbot is most often elected to the position by the monks of that particular monastery, and may also be appointed by the heads of the Order. Depending on the Rule of the religious order, the Abbot may be given the position only for a specified time. In some cases he may be a mitred Abbot -- that is, an abbot who is permanently consecrated to the position as an equal to a bishop. His role is that of a spiritual leader, business administrator, and public representative of a given monastery or abbey. Because monasteries and abbeys are not churches for the public, his primary concern is the work and prayer life of the monks.

An Abbess is the religious sister (nun) version of the abbot.

In modern times the Abbot is distinguished by wearing a black, brown, grey, or white zuccetto -- colours depending on the religious Order. The zuccetto is akin to a yarmulke, the Jewish skullcap worn by devout men. Zuccettos are also worn by monsignori (in burgundy), bishops (in pink), and Roman Catholic cardinals (in red). And like the other three ranks of church hierarchy just named, they also wear a pectoral cross -- a large cross or crucifix hanging round the neck and hanging to mid-chest.