The other day when we were discussing the symbolism of “the collar” John asked: “Is priesthood always a public office? I’ll give you that historically that has been the case most of the time….. but what about monastic priests (e.g. Carthusians) with no public ministry? Or hermit priests in the desert or on Mt Athos?”

At the time I answered quickly “yes the priesthood is absolutely a public office” and promised to explain myself more fully later. I’ve been playing with this now for a few days it will take a few postings but I’m going to begin an attempt at an explanation. This is not a systematic approach and is in no particular order – this by way of asking for your patience whilst I hap-hazardly cobble my thoughts together.

John’s example of monks is interesting. Asceticism is first and foremost an individual spiritual discipline. The ascetic withdraws from “the World” to persue a life dedicated to transcendence. This is a private, personalised discipline that was quickly drawn into the “public” life of the church in a number of ways.

Individuals, for various reasons relating to the spiritual life, sought out the ascetics, drawing them away from their isolation into the life of the community. Asceticism then evolves to take on the character of a teaching office. Famous examples include St. Antony who lived in solitude for twenty years (I think that’s right) before returning to teach others how to benefit from what he learned. The “private” evolved and became very “public”.

Athanasius, Gregory of Nazianzen, Chrysostom, Jerome and others presented the life and discipline of the ascetic as examples for emulation. These “living martyrs” bore witness to the truth of the Gospel, and the benefits of philosophy. A community that was surrounded by ascetics, and which had a cadre of virgins dwelling among them, was a blessed and protected community. These individuals, practicing a very individualised spirituality became the first line of spiritual (and physical) defence for the community of believers. Their “private” life of prayer and discipline – was now VERY “public”.

Christianity is, in its essence an explicitly corporate, communal, public, faith tradition. This is one reason why classical and neo-gnosticism, and New Age teaching are in some respects anti-thetical to the Christian tradition.

Athonite and Carthusian monks do provide a “public” ministry because their life and example are known to be a part of the life of the “whole” body of the community of believers in their particular tradition. These individuals have withdrawn from “the World” but have not left what St. Athanasius calls the “civic life” i.e. the life, cycles, customs, and vision of the community of believers.