Socio-philosophical analysis of basic principles of monastic society in the Orthodox East (by example of monastic republic Аthos)

In modern society,the person's orientations on enrichment and improvement of social status, priority of needs satisfaction and entertainment, eventually,leads to the need in social compensation. Society needs alternative forms of its existence. Most noticeably, this manifests itself inthe development of monasticism. Monks are often defined as a barometer of the spiritual component of a society. In this context, thestudy of the monastic society of the Orthodox East acquires a special meaning and relevance, as the centuries old religious institution isexposed to the "new spirituality" to a lesser extent, but it is still deeply spiritual for modern people. The aim is a socio-philosophicalanalysis of the basic principles of the monastic society in the Orthodox East, in particular  in the Convent of the republic of Athos, oneof the most prominent "spots" of asceticism and spirituality in the Christian world. Athos monastic life is a sociocultural phenomenonthat has its own characteristics. Monasticism, being in essence a form of expression of the religious organization of life, suggests a numberof peculiar regulations and restrictions. Three basic obligations, which are imposed on the monk, are the vow of poverty, abstinenceand obedience (humility). Cenoby as the main form of monastic residences in the Orthodox East implements the principle of communityof property, while idiorythm, which, until recently, existed on Mount Athos, admits the existence of private property. The Monasticrepublic of Mount Athos, limited with natural surroundings and a centuries-old avaton, creates conditions for monastic abstinence, resultingin the holy mountain in a considerable number of its forms, from extreme fanatical to less stringent ones. The third major elementof monastic existence in Orthodoxy is obedience. Humility, which is expressed through obedience to the confessor, or any otherperson, endowed with the power of a hierarchical authority, in essence, is the basis of the monastic society. Studies of Mount Athosmonastic society each time lead to conclusions about the absolute uniqueness of this system. It is this uniqueness, which has developedthrough centuries of selfless spiritual and cultural environment, that attracts modern people. Currently, when the European Community,which lives by the slogan "Il est interdit d'interdire", puts constant pressure on Greece to cancel avaton and open Athos to public, whichwill undoubtedly lead to the decay of the monastic republic in its original format. It is vital to try and form the community's awarenessof its importance, which consists in the centuries-old system of social stability and experience of the spiritual creation that is relevanteven today.

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