Abbot

An abbot (from the Hebrew ab, "a father", through the Syriac abba, Latin abbas (genitive form, abbatis), Old English abbad, ; German Abt; French abbé) is the head and chief governor of a community of monks, called also in the East hegumenos or archimandrite. The English version for a female monastic head is abbess.

Abbatial hierarchy

In several orders, there exists a pyramidal relationship between a major abbey (often the old mother of several others, especially if it was the place from where a monastic reform was launched, which in other cases even lead to breaking away as a new order of congregation) and other ones (often younger daughters), even when these are not (or no longer) priories but have their own abbot.

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As a daughter could often become a mother in a next phase, the 'family tree' can become very complex, but often the grandmother remains the only one with acknowledged seniority.

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Sometimes a very real hold was maintained, so the Abbot of Cluny had such vast income from the network of filial monasteries that he was one of the most powerful men in the church, and a real papabile. In other cases the precedence is little more than a honorary status.

Related Topics:
Cluny - Papabile

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In several cases, the senior abbot is entitled to a specific style, such as Abbot general, abbot president, abbot primate and archabbot.

Related Topics:
Abbot general - Abbot president - Abbot primate - Archabbot

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Such titles may also apply to the presidents of federation of monasteries, not necessarily reserved for one abbey.

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