noviciaten
Novitiate, or noviciate period, is the stage of initial formation for individuals preparing to join a religious community or to take permanent vows. It is used in many Catholic and Orthodox orders, as well as in some Protestant and Buddhist traditions, and typically follows an initial period of postulancy or candidacy. The primary purpose is discernment and formation: the novice learns the community’s rule and spirituality, participates in prayer and communal life, engages in study and works of charity, and receives guidance from a master of novices or spiritual director.
The duration and structure of the novitiate vary by tradition but are commonly one to two years,
Variations exist across religious traditions. In Catholic and many Orthodox settings, the novitiate leads to temporary