In the German Evangelical Church the title of abbot (Abt) is sometimes bestowed, like abbé, as an honorary distinction, and sometimes survives to designate the heads of monasteries converted at the Reformation into collegiate foundations. Of these the most noteworthy is the abbey of Lokkum in Hanover, founded as a Cistercian house in 1163 by Count Wilbrand of Hallermund, and reformed in 1593. The abbot of Lokkum, who still carries a pastoral staff, takes precedence of all the clergy of Hanover, and is ex officio a member of the consistory of the kingdom. The governing body of the abbey consists of abbot, prior and the "co ...

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Abbot, Abbot - Origins, Abbot - Monastic History, Abbot - General Information, Abbot - Abbatial hierarchy, Abbot - Modern Abbots not as Superior, Abbot - Protestantism, Abbot - Sources and References

Read more here: » Abbot: Encyclopedia II - Abbot - Protestantism

The word abbot, meaning father, has been used as a Christian clerical title in various, mainly monastic, meanings. Abbot - Origins. The title had its origin in the monasteries of Syria, spread through the eastern Mediterranean, and soon became accepted generally in all languages as the designation of the head of a monastery. Originally, the word, meaning father, was applied to various priests, e.g. at the court of the Frankish monarchy the Abbas palatinus ('of the palace') and Abbas castrensis ('of t ...

Including:

• Abbot - Origins
• Abbot - Monastic History
• Abbot - General Information
• Abbot - Abbatial hierarchy
• Abbot - Modern Abbots not as Superior
• Abbot - Protestantism
• Abbot - Sources and References

Read more here: » Abbot: Encyclopedia - 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. In Egypt, the first home of monasticism, the jurisdiction of the abbot, or archimandrite, was but loosely defined. Sometimes he ruled over o ...

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Abbot, Abbot - Origins, Abbot - Monastic History, Abbot - General Information, Abbot - Abbatial hierarchy, Abbot - Modern Abbots not as Superior, Abbot - Protestantism, Abbot - Sources and References

Read more here: » Abbot: Encyclopedia II - Abbot - Monastic History

Before the late modern era, the abbot was treated with the utmost reverence by the brethren of his house. When he appeared either in church or chapter all present rose and bowed. His letters were received kneeling, as were those of the pope and the king. No monk might sit in his presence, or leave it without his permission, reflecting the hierarchical etiquette of families and society. The highest place was assigned to him, both in church and at table. In the East he was commanded to eat with the other monks. In the West the Rule of St Bened ...

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Abbot, Abbot - Origins, Abbot - Monastic History, Abbot - General Information, Abbot - Abbatial hierarchy, Abbot - Modern Abbots not as Superior, Abbot - Protestantism, Abbot - Sources and References

Read more here: » Abbot: Encyclopedia II - Abbot - General Information

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. 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 ack ...

See also:

Abbot, Abbot - Origins, Abbot - Monastic History, Abbot - General Information, Abbot - Abbatial hierarchy, Abbot - Modern Abbots not as Superior, Abbot - Protestantism, Abbot - Sources and References

Read more here: » Abbot: Encyclopedia II - Abbot - Abbatial hierarchy