novice monk
Cloistered religious beginner
A novice monk is someone in the early stages of religious training, not yet having taken permanent vows.
The novitiate period tests whether the candidate is suited for monastic life: He spent two years as a novice monk before committing to the order.
The term applies across Buddhist, Christian, and other monastic traditions.
- neophyteInexperienced beginner
- initiateTo set in motion
- postulantReligious order applicant
- holy ordersSacrament conferring clergy status
- acolyteClergy's ceremonial assistant
friar · religious order · seminary · tonsure · habit · cloister · cloistered life · vows · celibacy · contemplation · prayer · daily prayers · devotion · humble · obedient · chanting · meditation · silence
novice monkabbot
Monastery's chief cleric
prior · father superior · spiritual father · old hand · venerable
novice monklayperson
Non-specialist or unordained person
layman · worldling · householder · ex-monk · secular
novice monkspiritual master
Guide to transcendence
guru · abbot · zen master · lama · spiritual director
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