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Sarabaites were a kind of
Christian monk
Christian monasticism is the devotional practice of Christians who live ascetic and typically cloistered lives that are dedicated to Christian worship. It began to develop early in the history of the Christian Church, modeled upon scriptural ex ...
widespread before the time of
Benedict of Nursia. They were also known as ''remoboths''.
History
They either continued like the early
asceticism, to live in their own homes, or dwelt together in or near cities. They acknowledged no monastic superior, obeyed no definite rule, and disposed individually of the product of their manual labour.
Jerome
Jerome (; la, Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus; grc-gre, Εὐσέβιος Σωφρόνιος Ἱερώνυμος; – 30 September 420), also known as Jerome of Stridon, was a Christian priest, confessor, theologian, and historian; he is co ...
speaks of them under the name remoboth, and
John Cassian
John Cassian, also known as John the Ascetic and John Cassian the Roman ( la, Ioannes Eremita Cassianus, ''Ioannus Cassianus'', or ''Ioannes Massiliensis''; – ), was a Christian monk and theologian celebrated in both the Western and Eastern c ...
tells of their wide diffusion in
Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Medit ...
and other lands. Both writers express a very unfavourable opinion concerning their conduct, and a reference to them in the ''
Rule of Saint Benedict'' is of similar import.
At a later date, the name Sarabaites, the original meaning of which cannot be determined, designated in a general way degenerate monks. The Rule of St. Benedict considered their non-adherence to church canon only to be exceeded by the
gyrovague
Gyrovagues (sometimes Gyrovagi or Gyruvagi) were wandering or itinerant monks without fixed residence or leadership, who relied on charity and the hospitality of others.
The term, coming from French, itself from Late Latin ''gyrovagus'' (''gyro-'' ...
s.
References
Works cited
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See also
*
Gyrovagues
Gyrovagues (sometimes Gyrovagi or Gyruvagi) were wandering or itinerant monks without fixed residence or leadership, who relied on charity and the hospitality of others.
The term, coming from French, itself from Late Latin ''gyrovagus'' (''gyro-'' ...
* ''
Rule of Saint Benedict''
External links
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Catholic orders and societies
Roman Catholic monks
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