The word abbot, meaning father, has been used as a Christian clerical title in various, mainly monastic, meanings.

Origins

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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 the camp) were chaplains to the Merovingian/ Carolingian sovereign's court viz. to his army. At first it was employed as a respectful title for any monk, but it was soon restricted by canon law to certain priestly superiors. The name "abbot" came in fairly general use in western monastic orders whose members (or the 'full' level at least) are ordained priests. However, various congregations chose other titles for their superiors, e.g. among the Dominicans, Carmelites, Augustinians, etc., Praepositus, Provost, and Prior; among the Franciscans, Custos, "guardian"; and by the monks of Camaldoli, "Major."

Monastic history

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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.

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