The Age of the Monastic Applicant
The Age of the Monastic Applicant
Currently, we require that anyone applying for monasticism, besides the spiritual qualities, be at an age in which mental and spiritual maturity are present, along with the completion of military service.
But the history of monasticism is filled, in ancient times, with many who were very young. Saint Theodore, the disciple of Saint Pachomius, and Saint John the Short—each of them became a guide to others while still a young man. It is likely that they entered monasticism at around fourteen. And perhaps at this age or younger, Saint Misael the Anchorite also entered monasticism, for he entered the life of seclusion at around nineteen years of age, after having spent years in monastic life.
Saint Shenouda the Archimandrite went to monasticism when he was nine years old, and Saint Zachariah was a boy, and the Bustan (Sayings of the Desert Fathers) recounts that the great elders, such as Saint Moses and Saint Macarius, would ask him for a word of benefit.
Perhaps these saints were rare examples, distinguished by an unusually early maturity.
In the same manner, we also find in our priestly history young individuals with early maturity, such as Saint Athanasius. And likewise, we read in the history of the prophets about a young boy like Jeremiah… The matter, then, depends on maturity above all else.
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