Hermit

Lore & Background

In the common Christian tradition, the first known Christian hermit in Egypt was Paul of Thebes, hence called 'St. Paul the first hermit.' Antony of Egypt, often referred to as 'Antony the Great,' is perhaps the most renowned of all the early Christian hermits owing to the biography by Athanasius of Alexandria. An antecedent for Egyptian eremiticism may have been the Syrian solitary or 'son of the covenant' who undertook special disciplines as a Christian. Christian hermits in the past have often lived in isolated cells or hermitages, whether a natural cave or a constructed dwelling, situated in the desert or the forest. People sometimes sought them out for spiritual advice and counsel. Some eventually acquired so many disciples that they no longer enjoyed physical solitude. Some early Christian Desert Fathers wove baskets to exchange for bread. In medieval times, hermits were also found within or near cities where they might earn a living as gate keepers or ferrymen. In the 10th century, a rule for hermits living in a monastic community was written by Grimlaicus. In the 11th century, the life of the hermit gained recognition as a legitimate independent pathway to salvation. Many hermits in that century and the next came to be regarded as saints.

Reader's Guide

Hermits hold significance across multiple religious traditions as exemplars of asceticism and solitary devotion. In Christianity, the eremitic life is an early form of monastic living that preceded communal monasticism. The Rule of St Benedict lists hermits among four kinds of monks. In the Roman Catholic Church, diocesan hermits are recognized under canon 603 as members of the consecrated life, while the Evangelical-Lutheran Churches and parts of the Anglican Communion also recognize them. The Carthusian and Camaldolese orders preserve an essentially eremitic life within a cenobitical context, with monks living in individual hermitages. The term 'hermit' is also used loosely for any Christian living a secluded prayer-focused life, and sometimes interchangeably with anchorite, recluse, and solitary. In modern colloquial usage, 'hermit' denotes anyone living apart from society for any reason. The legacy of hermits includes their role in preserving spiritual traditions, offering counsel, and demonstrating a radical commitment to religious ideals through solitude and penance.

Did You Know?

• The word 'hermit' comes from the Greek 'erēmitēs,' meaning 'of the desert.'
• The first known Christian hermit in Egypt was Paul of Thebes, from the 3rd century.
• In medieval times, hermits sometimes earned a living as gate keepers or ferrymen.
• The Carthusian and Camaldolese orders arrange their monasteries as clusters of hermitages.