hermit

The title of this article is ambiguous. Further meanings are listed under Hermit (disambiguation) .

Icon of the hermit Onophrios

A hermit ( ancient Greek ἐρημίτης eremítēs "desert inhabitants", German also " hermit "; from ἔρημος érēmos "uninhabited, desert ") is a person who lives more or less isolated from people (see hermitage or hermitage ).

Concept and history

Hermit Cave in Spain

Originally, the term was only applied to Christians who had spiritual motives for turning to this way of life, namely the desert theology of the Old Testament , that is, the forty years of wandering in the desert after leaving Egypt , which was supposed to bring about a change of heart.

term

In part, the term is applied uncritically to everyone who lives in solitude. In the spiritual context it is sometimes used as synonymous with anachoret (from ancient Greek ἀναχωρεῖν anachōreín , "to withdraw, to move into the country (outside the fortified city)"), although a clear distinction is required.

Hermits in Christianity

In the early church a distinction was made between hermits who lived alone (anchorites) and those who lived together. Religious communities , monasteries or localities often emerged from their hermitages .

Hermitism is one of the oldest forms of consecrated life and is also the earliest form of monasticism in Europe. In the rule of St. Benedict (6th century) the hermit is listed as one of the four types of monks .

Legends about hermits or monks who lived secluded from the world contain historically accurate backgrounds. An Egyptian monk named Apa Bane was described in his biography as always fasting, standing and not sleeping. The mummy found in his monastery church had ankylosing spondylitis disease , a disease that not only causes stooped walking, as today's icons still show, but also leads to loss of appetite, avoidance of lying down and insomnia - in principle, it is one "Scientifically proven ascetics", according to the coptologist Siegfried G. Richter .

Among the saints are some hermits, including St. Bruno (the founder of the Carthusian Order ), Celestine , Meinrad and Gunther von Niederaltaich . St. Francis linked the hermitic life with the traveling sermon and the apostolate among the people ("Silence and City"). The Capuchins are an independent branch of the Franciscan Order with a moderate hermit character .

Hermits in the lands of the Habsburg monarchy (18th century)

In the countries of the Habsburg Monarchy, the contemplative orders and hermitages were abolished under Emperor Joseph II around 1780–1790, although the rural population adhered to the hermits and tried to defend them unsuccessfully. Many hermits therefore fled to Switzerland.

Ornamental Hermits in England (18th / 19th Century)

A phenomenon of the 18th and early 19th centuries were the decorative hermits in the English landscape parks , professional hermits who lived in specially arranged hermitages for a contractually agreed period and who showed up at certain times of the day to present the park owners and their guests with their sight to entertain.

Hinduism

In Hinduism , hermit represents the third of four stages of life. After Brahmacharya (youth) and Grihastha (adult life) comes Vanaprastha . Once the first two phases have been completed, the Hindu retires to shelter in the wilderness. He feeds on the fruits he finds there and studies the scriptures. He now calls himself forest hermit , is no longer part of the social community and its duties, and delves into his spiritual experience. This is followed by the fourth phase: Sannyasin (wandering basket).

Diocesan ceremonies

In the Roman Catholic Church , hermitism is one of the forms of consecrated life recognized by the Church . After the Second Vatican Council and the resulting revision of canon law , the church incorporated the form of the hermit, who is subordinate to the local bishop , into canon law (Canon 603 of the CIC ):

• § 1: In addition to the Institutes of Consecrated Life, the Church also recognizes the hermit or anachoretic life in which believers live their lives in praise of God and the salvation of the world through stricter separation from the world, in the quiet of solitude, through constant prayer and penance consecrate.
• § 2: The hermit is recognized by law as given to God in the consecrated life if, confirmed by a vow or by another sacred bond, he has publicly committed himself to the three evangelical counsels in the hands of the diocesan bishop and under his direction those of him preserves peculiar way of life.

These hermits are known as diocesan hermits . There are also hermits who are members of a religious order and whose maintenance is borne by the religious order. The total number of hermits in Germany is estimated at 70 to 80 people.

Well-known hermits

• Angelus de Scarpettis (monk, priest ; * 1230; † 1306; from 1245)
• Anthony the Great (saint, hermit, monk father ; * around 250; † 356; from 275)
• Benedict of Nursia (hermit, founder of an order , abbot; * 480; † 547; from 497 or 498)
• Benedikt der Mohr (saint, mountain farmer , cattle herder , monk, novice master , guardian ; * 1526, † 1589; from 1547)
• Bruno of Cologne (saint, novice master, founder of an order; * 1030, † 1101, from 1084)
• Chariton the Confessor (saint, ascetic , hermit, abbot ; *?; † 350; from around 330)
• Celestine V (Pope) (saint, pope , monk; * 1215; † 1296; 1235–1294, with interruptions)
• Corrado Confalonieri (saint, miracle worker ; * around 1290; † 1351; towards the end of life)
• David of Thessaloniki (hermit, columnist , * around 450; † before 535; from around 500)
• Edigna von Puch ( blessed , hermit; * around 1055; † 1109; from 1074)
• Euagrios Pontikos (monk, ascetic, writer ; * 345; † 399;?)
• Eva von Lüttich (blessed, reclusine , mystic; * 1190; † 1265;?)
• Francis of Assisi (saint, founder of the order; * 1181; † 1226; 1207–1209)
• Franz von Paola (saint, founder of the order; * 1416; † 1508; from 1431 or 1432)
• Gallus (saint, monastery founder, hermit, preacher, missionary; * around 550; † around 650; from 612 until the end of life)
• Guthlac (saint, monk, hermit, priest; * 673; † 714; from 699)
• Hilarion of Gaza (saint, hermit, abbot; * 290 or 291, † 371 or 372; from 306 for more than two decades)
• Jerome of Bergamo (saint, nobleman , founder of an order; * 1486; † 1537; last years of life)
• Ida von Toggenburg ( Count's daughter , Inclusive , hermit; * 1156, † 1226; from 1191)
• Johannes Cassianus (saint, monk father, priest, monastery founder, deacon ; * about 360; † about 435; about 385–399)
• John the Baptist (saint, penitential preacher , desert basket; * around 5 BC; † between 29 and 36; in adulthood)
• Juliana von Lüttich (saint, canon ; * 1192; † 1258; after 1248)
• Juliana of Norwich (blessed, mystic ; * 1342; † after 1413; from 1388)
• Korbinian (saint, founder of a monastery, missionary bishop , missionary , hermit; * 670 or around 680; † 724 or 730; for 14 years, up to around 710)
• Landelin von Ettenheimmünster (saint, prince, hermit, monk; *?; 640; until the end of life)
• Lykow family ( Soviet hermit family; * 1944: daughter Agafja,?; † 1961: mother Akulina, 1988: father Karp, 1961–1988: two sons, one daughter - daughter Agafja still alive (newspaper article 2018); after the February revolution )
• Mary of Egypt (saint, desert mother, hermit, prostitute ; 344; † 421; from about 373)
• Meinrad von Einsiedeln (saint, count, hermit, monk; * 797; † 861; from 821)
• Niklaus von Flüe (saint, mystic, hermit, peacemaker ; * 1417; † 1487; from 1467)
• Notburga von Hochhausen (king's daughter; * / † 7th century ; early adulthood until the end of life)
• Onophrios the Great (saint, anchorite ; * 320; † around 400; 70 years to end of life)
• Paul of Thebes (saint, hermit; * 228; † around 341; 90 years to end of life)
• Rosa Flesch (Selige, founder of the order; * 1826; † 1906; 1851 until 1861 at the latest)
• Sara the Hermit (saint, hermit; * 4th century ; † 4th or 5th century; at a young age, for 60 years)
• Sergius von Radonezh (saint, monastery founder, abbot, miracle worker; * 1314, † 1392; 1340 at the earliest, until 1354)
• Simeon von Trier (saint, inclusion, deacon, monk, hermit; *?; † 1035; from 1030 at the earliest, until the end of life)
• Symeon Stylites the Elder (pillar, incluse, monk, hermit; * 390; † 459; from 429 or 430 to the end of life)
• Theophan Goworow (saint, star , priest monk, bachelor's degree in moral and pastoral theology , writer, archimandrite , head , rector , bishop , translator ; * 1815, † 1894; from 1873)
• Thomas Merton ( Trappist monk , mystic, writer, peace activist ; * 1915, † 1968; last years of life)
• Ursicinus (saint, nobleman, miracle worker; * 552, † 620; from 615)
• Gunther von Niederaltaich (saint, nobleman; monk, head of the monastic community in Rinchnach ; * 955; † 1045; from 1008)
• Timon of Athens ( philosopher , misanthropist ; * 5th century BC ; †?;?)
• Wolfgang von Regensburg (saint, nobleman, monk, bishop, missionary, preacher ; * 924; † 994; 976–983)

in brackets: characteristic; Year of birth; Year of death and period of hermit

Hermit Order

• Camaldolese
• Carthusian
• Bethlehem Sisters (Monastic religious family of Bethlehem, the Assumption of Mary and St. Bruno)

See also

• Klause (religion)
• Desert fathers

literature

• Anne Bamberg: Hermits and consecrated life. On the canonical typology. In: Spirit and Life. 78, 2005, ISSN  0016-5921 , pp. 313-318, online .
• Anne Bamberg: Ecclesiastically recognized hermits. Canon 603 of the Code of Canon Law and the Responsibility of the Diocesan Bishop. In: Order correspondence. 45, 2004, ISSN  1867-4291 , pp. 425-433.
• Anne Bamberg: In the light of theology and canon law. Catholic Hermits and Obedience. In: Spirit and Life. 86, 2013, ISSN  0016-5921 , pp. 181-190.
• Gabriel Bunge OSB (Ed.) Evagrios Pontikos, Der Praktikos (The Monk). A hundred chapters on the spiritual life. 2nd improved and increased edition. Beuroner Kunstverlag, Beuron 2008, ISBN 978-3-87071-170-2 ( instructions from fathers 6).
• Freddy Derwahl : Hermits. The adventures of loneliness. Pattloch, Munich 2000, ISBN 3-629-00833-X .
• Maria Anna Leenen: lonely and alone? Hermits in Germany. Verlag Aschendorff, Münster 2006, ISBN 3-402-00235-3 .
• Maria Anna Leenen: Exposing yourself to God and withstanding. Hermit life today. Verlag Aschendorff, Münster 2009, ISBN 978-3-402-12811-4 .
• Maria Anna Leenen (Ed.): An old way of life in a new guise. The Canon 603 Codex Iuris Canonici. Articles and lectures. A working aid. Verlag Traugott Bautz, Nordhausen 2012, ISBN 978-3-88309-696-4 .
• Fairy von Lilienfeld : Spirituality of the early desert monasticism. Collected essays 1962–1971. Edited by Ruth Albrecht and Franziska Müller. Chair for the History and Theology of the Christian East, Erlangen 1983, ISBN 3-923119-15-1 ( Oikonomia 18).
• Dominicus Meier OSB: The way of life of the soft tones - hermitic life according to c. 603 CIC. Heritage and Mission. In: Monastic World. 86, 2, ISSN  0013-9963 , pp. 201-205.
• Thomas Merton : In harmony with yourself and the world. = Contemplation in a World of Action. Diogenes Verlag, Zurich 1992, ISBN 3-257-22549-0 ( Diogenes paperback 22549).
• Catherine Santschi: Hermits in Tyrol and Vorarlberg , Wenger Verlag, Brixen 2010, ISBN 978-88-6563-002-0 .
• M. Antonia Sondermann: Praedicatio silentiosa et ecclesia minor, Eremitisches Leben according to the current law of the Catholic Church , supplements to the Munster Commentary No. 68, Ludgerus-Verlag, Munster 2014, ISBN 978-3-87497-282-6 .

Web links

Commons : Hermits  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Hermits in Germany
• Regula Benedicti: The types of monks  ( page no longer available )
• Library of the Church Fathers, German translation of ancient texts by the Church Fathers , University of Freiburg (Switzerland)
• Hermit Maria-Anna Leenen. In: Spiegel Online from December 26, 2014.
• Bolswert eremites engravings with descriptions from the De Verda Collection

Individual evidence

1. ^ Siegfried G. Richter: The Coptic Egypt. Treasures in the shadow of the pharaohs. (with photos by Jo Bischof). Scientific Book Society, Darmstadt 2019, ISBN 978-3-8053-5211-6 , p. 67.
2. ^ Catherine Santschi: Hermits in Tyrol and Vorarlberg. Wenger publishing house, Brixen 2010, page 7.
3. ↑ Christiane Willers: Hinduism, Buddhism . BWV Verlag, 2009, ISBN 978-3-8305-1597-5 , p. 34 ( view in Google Book Search [accessed May 29, 2020]).
4. ↑ Hermits in Germany , in: "World and Environment of the Bible", 2/2011, p. 62, Katholisches Bibelwerk eV Stuttgart.
5. ↑ Angelus de Scarpettis - Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints. Retrieved May 25, 2020 . 
6. ↑ Anthony "the Great" - Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints. Retrieved May 25, 2020 . 
7. ↑ St. Benedict and his rule. Retrieved May 25, 2020 . 
8. ↑ Benedict of Nursia - Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints. Retrieved May 25, 2020 . 
9. ↑ Benedikt "der Mohr" - Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints. Retrieved May 25, 2020 . 
10. ↑ BENEDICT THE MOHR. Retrieved May 25, 2020 . 
11. ↑ St Benedikt der Mohr, OFM stained glass by St Benedikt der Mohr, within the Capela do Divino Espírito Santo, Porto Alegre, Brazil Religious and confessor Born 1526 San Fratello: Benedikt der Mohr - Benedict the Moor - wiki wiki. Retrieved May 25, 2020 . 
12. ↑ BRUNO OF COLOGNE. Retrieved May 25, 2020 . 
13. ↑ Bruno of Cologne. In: Ilona Dörr-Wilder. Retrieved on May 25, 2020 (German). 
14. ↑ Chariton the Confessor. Retrieved May 25, 2020 . 
15. ↑ Coelestin V - Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints. Retrieved May 27, 2020 . 
16. ^ Simon Ditchfield: Liturgy, Sanctity and History in Tridentine Italy: Pietro Maria Campi and the Preservation of the Particular . Cambridge University Press, 2002, ISBN 978-0-521-89320-6 ( google.de [accessed May 25, 2020]).
17. ↑ Vaticano com Srls: San Corrado Confalonieri - San Corrado Confalonieri Vaticano.com. February 19, 2020, accessed on May 25, 2020 (it-IT). 
18. ↑ David of Thessaloniki - Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints. Retrieved May 25, 2020 . 
19. ↑ Edigna von Puch - Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints. Retrieved May 25, 2020 . 
20. ↑ A spiritual place. In: Un | rest - the magazine. October 21, 2019, accessed on May 25, 2020 (German). 
21. ↑ Euagrios Pontikos. Retrieved May 25, 2020 . 
22. ^ Benedictine Sisters of St. Lioba. Retrieved May 30, 2020 . 
23. ↑ Name days online - namenstage.katholisch.de. Retrieved May 30, 2020 . 
24. ^ Francis of Assisi - His life and work. Retrieved May 25, 2020 . 
25. ^ Francis of Assisi. Retrieved May 25, 2020 . 
26. ↑ Francis of Assisi - Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints. Retrieved May 25, 2020 . 
27. ↑ Franz (Franziskus) von Paula, everything about St. Franz von Paula, founder of the order of minor brothers - customs from A - Z clearly explained - a service from www.heiligenlegende.de. Retrieved May 25, 2020 . 
28. ↑ ^{a b} German biography: Gallus - German biography. Retrieved August 4, 2020 . 
29. ↑ ^{a b} Gallus - Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints. Retrieved August 4, 2020 . 
30. ^ Guthlac von Crowland - Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints. Retrieved May 26, 2020 . 
31. ↑ Holy Guthlac stock photos & Holy Guthlac stock images - alamy Retrieved May 26, 2020 . 
32. ^ Rudolf Lorenz: The Church in its History . Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1961, ISBN 978-3-525-52308-7 ( google.de [accessed on May 26, 2020]).
33. ↑ Hilarion of Gaza - Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints. Retrieved May 26, 2020 . 
34. ↑ Hieronymus Ämiliani - Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints. Retrieved May 25, 2020 . 
35. ↑ Ida von Toggenburg - Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints. Retrieved May 26, 2020 . 
36. ^ Johannes Cassianus - Biography and Offers - Buy and Sell. Retrieved May 26, 2020 . 
37. ↑ Johannes Cassianus - Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints. Retrieved May 26, 2020 . 
38. ↑ Hermit monks - the first was John the Baptist - Hamburger Abendblatt. Retrieved July 17, 2020 . 
39. ↑ Ulrike Kammerhofer-Aggermann: John the Baptist; Solstice bonfires, prang processions; June 24th. In: Religions in Austria. Calendar 2017 / R. Salzburger Landesinstitut Volkskunde, accessed on July 17, 2020 . 
40. ↑ John the Baptist - Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints. Retrieved July 17, 2020 . 
41. ↑ John the Baptist. Retrieved July 17, 2020 . 
42. ^ Juliana von Lüttich - Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints. Retrieved May 26, 2020 . 
43. ↑ Blessed Juliana of Norwich. Retrieved May 26, 2020 . 
44. ^ General audience of December 1, 2010: Juliana of Norwich | BENEDICT XVI. Retrieved May 26, 2020 . 
45. ↑ The Freising Cathedral: St. Korbinian. Retrieved August 4, 2020 . 
46. ↑ ^{a b} Ettenheim Munster | City of Ettenheim. Retrieved May 26, 2020 . 
47. ↑ Landelin von Ettenheimmünster - Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints. Retrieved May 26, 2020 . 
48. ↑ Mary of Egypt. Retrieved May 26, 2020 . 
49. ↑ Mary of Egypt - de.LinkFang.org. Retrieved May 26, 2020 . 
50. ↑ Pelagi-Einsiedeln welcome. Retrieved May 26, 2020 . 
51. ↑ Nikolaus von Flüe - Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints. Retrieved May 26, 2020 . 
52. ↑ Emergency gas massage | Förderverein Notburgakirche Hochhausen eV Accessed on May 26, 2020 (German). 
53. ↑ Piazza II. 519-533: Onuphrios the Great. Retrieved May 27, 2020 . 
54. ↑ Paulus von Theben - Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints. Retrieved May 27, 2020 . 
55. ^ Marienhaus: The blessed Rosa Flesch. Retrieved May 30, 2020 . 
56. ↑ Sara the Hermit - de.LinkFang.org. Retrieved May 27, 2020 . 
57. ^ Sergius von Radonezh - Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints. Retrieved May 27, 2020 . 
58. ↑ Simeon von Trier - Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints. Retrieved May 27, 2020 . 
59. ^ Simeon Stylites the Elder - Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints. Retrieved May 27, 2020 . 
60. ↑ Theophan Goworow - de.LinkFang.org. Retrieved May 27, 2020 . 
61. ↑ Von Wunibald Müller: The Nonconformist: Impulses from the Trappist Thomas Merton for Christian spirituality today. Retrieved May 27, 2020 . 
62. ↑ Ursicinus the Hermit - Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints. Retrieved May 27, 2020 . 
63. ↑ St. Gunther von Niederaltaich | Sankt Gunther House,. Retrieved May 27, 2020 . 
64. ↑ Hans Jacob Christoph von Grimmelshausen: The adventurous Simplicissimus Teutsch and Continuatio . Reclam Verlag, 2017, ISBN 978-3-15-961299-7 ( google.de [accessed on May 27, 2020]).
65. ↑ Wolfgang von Regensburg - Ecumenical Lexicon of Saints. Retrieved May 27, 2020 . 
66. ↑ WOLFGANG OF REGENSBURG. Retrieved May 27, 2020 .