concept
Novice (poslushnik)
novice
also: послушник, poslushnik
A man living and working in an Orthodox monastery under a period of probation and instruction, not yet tonsured a monk or under permanent vows; Ieronim's status as a novice explains his subordinate position, kept at ferry duty while others attend the Paschal service.
Reading notes
- On Holy Night §65 I'm a novice
A novice (послушник, poslushnik, literally "one under obedience") is a man living and working in a monastery under a period of probation and instruction, not yet tonsured a monk and so not yet under permanent vows; Ieronim's status explains both his subordinate position -- stuck on ferry duty while others attend the service -- and his humility throughout the story.