The monastic duties in the Monastery

The monastic duties are defined by the Holy Synax of the Monastery according to the needs of the orderly administration and living of the fathers, but also for the achievement of other spiritual functions in the Monastery. 

The basic monastic duties are those of the Abbot, the commissioners, the representative of the Monastery in the Holy Community of Mount Athos, as well as the protopistat every five years, a right which belongs to the Monastery as well as to the other four Monasteries that are first in the order of Mount Athos.

Also the monastic duties of the secretary, the sacristan, the typikarios, the ecclesiastic, the cook, the archon, the refectory, the gardeners and others.

In the monasteries of Mount Athos, the monastic duties change from the 1st of the year to the 7th of the same year. They usually last a year or more. This custom is patristic, because it was handed down by the organizer of monastic life in Pontus and Cappadocia, Basil the Great. (In his “Ascetic Provisions” he defines how a true monk should proceed within the monastery).

The assignment of the deacons is made by the Abbot of the monastery and the commissioners, always in accordance with the internal regulations of the Monastery. "The called deacons in the Monasteries are appointed by the Synod of the Superiors, who submit a petition to the patron of the Monastery and the superiors as an indication of the dedicated fulfillment of the duties assigned to them." In the other Athonite establishments it is given by the Elder of the escort.

The ability of each monk, age, education, etc. is always taken into account. Monastic duties, which are related to administrative tasks, are always given to the elders and superiors, which is why they are also called prescriptive.

They usually stay in them for longer years, and this is done in order to cultivate and care for them more or because they have the corresponding experience. Those younger in rank and age take on the more arduous and manual monastic duties.

For beginners, care is taken to go through most of the monastic duties, so that they become familiar with them and, by gaining experience, become more creative and positive agents.

Abba Dorotheos likens ministers to members of the human body, saying characteristically: "Do you not understand that all are one body and each one is a member of the other? Those who are concerned with the administration of the Monastery are the head. Those who observe and correct are the eyes. Those who benefit others with the word are the mouth. The ears are those who obey. The hands are those who work. The feet are the apocrypha and those who have monastic duties. Are you the head? Administer. Are you the eye? Observe, understand well. Are you the mouth? Speak, benefit. Are you the ear? Be submissive. Are you the hand? Work. Are you the foot? Do your service. Let each one serve the body according to his strength.».

Sources:

Collective Project, Holy Great Monastery of Vatopedi, vol. 1, published by I.M.M. Vatopedi, Mount Athos 2016.

Hieromonk Prodromos, "Athonite Melisson". The monastic duties, crafts and workshops on Mount Athos.