anchorite

religion

Also known as: anchoress

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June 17, 2026

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An anchorite is a person who lives in seclusion, typically for religious reasons. This term is often used interchangeably with "hermit" or "recluse." While both anchorites and hermits withdraw from society, an anchorite traditionally chose a cell attached to a church or near a populated area, whereas a hermit would retreat to the wilderness.12

The word "anchorite" comes from the Greek word "anachōrein," meaning "to withdraw". Many Christian saints were anchorites, dedicating their lives to spirituality away from the world. The eremitic life, or the life of a hermit, eventually faded in Western Christianity but has persisted in Eastern Christianity.3452

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hermit
…desert”) is used interchangeably with anchorite, although the two were originally distinguished on the basis of location: an anchorite selected a cell attached to a church or near a populous centre, while a hermit retired to the wilderness.
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…desert”) is used interchangeably with anchorite, although the two were originally distinguished on the basis of location: an anchorite selected a cell attached to a church or near a populous centre, while a hermit retired to the wilderness.
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celibacy
Types of celibacy
…woods or the desert, the anchorite living in isolation in a church or monastery—the cenobite living a stabilized monastic life in community, and the mendicant ascetic who wanders from place to place gathering alms. In any case, the celibate state is viewed as an inseparable part of the monk’s way…
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…woods or the desert, the anchorite living in isolation in a church or monastery—the cenobite living a stabilized monastic life in community, and the mendicant ascetic who wanders from place to place gathering alms. In any case, the celibate state is viewed as an inseparable part of the monk’s way…
Read More