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Acell is a small room used by ahermit,monk,nun oranchorite to live and as a devotional space. Cells are often part of largercenobitic monastic communities such asCatholic,Lutheran, Anglican and Orthodox Christianmonasteries, as well asBuddhistvihara,[1] but may also form stand-alone structures in remote locations. The wordcell comes from theOld Frenchcelle meaning a monastic cell, itself from theLatin meaning "room",[2] "store room" or "chamber".[3]
Usually, a cell is small and contains a minimum of furnishings. It may be an individual living space in a building or a hermit's primitive solitary living space, possibly acave orhut in a remote location. A small dependent or daughter house of a major monastery, sometimes housing just one or two monks or nuns, may also be termed a cell.
The first cells were in theNitrian Desert inEgypt following the ministry ofPaul of Thebes,[4]Serapion, andAnthony the Great.[5] in the mid 3rd century.
In some orders, such as the Trappists, the monks or nuns do not have cells but sleep in a large room called a dormitory. In eremitic orders like theCarthusians, the room calledcell usually has the size and look of a small house with a separate garden.
InBuddhism, avihara was a living arrangement similar to a Christian monastery. The term "kuti" is also used.[6]
