Abbots

An abbot is the head of a monastery in many Christian traditions, especially Western monastic orders such as the Benedictines and Cistercians, and in some Orthodox communities. The female equivalent is the abbess. The word abbot is from Latin abbas, meaning father, reflecting the abbot’s role as the spiritual father of the monastic community.

Selection and duties: The abbot is typically elected by the monks of the community, with the appointment sometimes requiring confirmation by a higher church authority such as a bishop or the pope. The abbot's responsibilities include guiding the community in its spiritual observances, enforcing the monastic rule, overseeing liturgical life, and managing the abbey’s temporal affairs—property, finances, houses, and personnel. The abbot also represents the monastery in relations with the local church, civil authorities, and other religious communities.

Structures and history: Monasteries may be governed directly by a single abbot or within larger structures led by an abbot ordinary, abbot primate, or abbot general who preside over several houses. Historically, abbots could exercise significant temporal power, owning lands and exercising jurisdiction within their territories. In the Orthodox Church the equivalent office is usually called hegumen or igumen, depending on tradition, though English-language usage may still use "abbot" for some monasteries.

Modern context: In many regions, abbots continue to lead communities devoted to prayer, work, and study, with authority defined by the order’s constitutions and local church law. The role remains a combination of spiritual leadership and administrative governance within the monastery.