Monasticism (1)

As was said, Monasticism passed through four stages of development. During the first stage the ascetics were unorganized sand continued to dwell among men. During the second stage they withdrew from the society of men, even from the society of one another, and took their abode in the wilderness. This form of monasticism is known as anchoretism from the Greek "anachooreoo" to retire from human society). During the third state of development, the ascetics organized to form congregations of...