The Hermitage Project

Sancti Angeli Benedictine Skete
- Towards a House of Formation for Hermits

What is a Skete?

The word skete comes from 'ascetic' and originally meant a place where a number of ascetics lived together. Ascetic is a very ancient term, used to designate people dedicated to prayer and fasting - long before the ascetics became known as monks and nuns.

The two monastic Rules of St. Basil are both called 'Asketicon' - a manual of ascetic practises. The most famous early skete was actually called Sketis.

 

Why Do We Need Sketes?

The skete is traditionally the link between the coenobium - the monastery where monks and nuns live communally - and the hermitage, where one person lives alone. In the early church, it was the house of formation for the hermits of the monastery.

Today there is a huge gap between monks and nuns living in community and 'freelance' hermits. The skete is the 'missing link' we need to put back into monastic life.

Why a Benedictine Skete?

St. Benedict, in Chapter 1 of his Rule, 'The Kinds of Monks,' clearly intends hermits to be formed in community 'and go from the battle line in the ranks of their brethren to the single combat of the desert.' Today cenobitic monasteries normally exclude the eremitic life.

Benedict’s Rule is the gold standard of western monasticism. Benedictine sketes can turn his directive into reality, by restoring the tradition of communal foundation for the eremitical life.

Why in Glen Cannich?

The Scottish glens have much of the same wild terrain and remote uninhabited places which have drawn men and women dedicated to a life of continuous prayer from ancient times - from the deserts of Egypt to the steppes of Siberia.

The founders of Scottish monasticism combined community and eremitical life, in a way similar to that of the monks of Athos today. Skete monasteries and their dependent hermitages are physically closely similar to the traditional Scottish crofting community.

Sancti Angeli at Marydale

When Archbishop Mario Conti was Bishop of Aberdeen, he gave permission for the skete way of life to be developed at the vacant presbytery at Our Lady and St. Bean parish Church at Marydale in Cannich.

Marydale now consists of the parish church, the 3 cell skete and its walled garden, and a church hall, with priest’s flat. This is set in fifteen acres of church croft land, including a small pinewood. This ensures regular recourse to the sacraments of the Church, and proximity to a bus service, health care, and a village shop / post office for practical needs.

15 Years as a Hermit

Sister Petra Clare was granted a papal indult to make canonical Benedictine foundation for the hermit life at St. Cecilia’s Abbey, Ryde. Over 15 years her vocation to live a life of prayer in solitude was fostered, as she deepened her understanding of the Benedictine Rule and vows at the heart of the hermit path.

During this time, she offered the opportunity for lay visitors to experience this way of life for short periods.Sister Petra Clare has undertaken some teaching and spiritual direction. At present, there is a waiting list of women who wish to test their vocation at the skete.

Daily Life at Sancti Angeli

The daily monastic practise combines Benedictine and Carthusian characteristics, inspired by the Valliscaulian monastic tradition, which was popular in Scotland in the middle ages. Services together are the Matins Vigil, Lauds, combined with communion from the reserve sacrament, and Vespers. Mass is available twice a week in the parish church.

To maintain an atmosphere of continuous silence, the little hours are offered in cell and meals are also taken in cell. On Saturday, some common work and studies are undertaken, while on Sunday there is a walk after a communal meal.

Plans for a Highland Hermitage Site

As the skete is located in a diocesan property, given an increase of Sisters, we would hope to negotiate with the diocese to put temporary 'pod' hermitages on the parish land, prior to moving to a dedicated hermitage site. A decision would need to be taken with the diocese, at this stage, whether the Sisters will retain a presence at Marydale or move the venture in its entirety to the hermitage site.

The long term aim has always been to facilitate more remote dwellings for extended retreat and the hermit life. We will remain on the look out for a more remote site, the preferred location being Cannich glen. It is envisaged that this site will include two retreat areas, one for religious and priests, and one for lay retreatants. It is envisaged that individual self contained units - wooden cabins or similar, will be the main retreat accommodation.

Hermits as Custodians of Landscape & Culture

Scotland is attracting a noticeably high proportion of hermits: the wild glens and extreme climate speak to the vocation of the hermit as ascetic and spiritual pioneer. The character of hermit life has much to offer Scotland - living in remote hermitages, similar to shielings, and when together, in communities akin to the old crofting townships.

Hermits are fiercely protective of the natural and cultural heritage of the areas in which they live. This makes them ideal custodians of landscape and ecology, seeking to preserve and build on the religious traditions of the area.

Scottish Saints Eco - Walk Proposal

There is a proposal to have an eco-walk within the visitors area, with covered icons of Scottish saints and priests of the Strathglass mission at specific points of the walk. This would be accompanied by a booklet, giving meditations for each ‘Station’ with historical and ecological facts.

 

 

 

What a Highland Hermitage Site Would Look Like