Abbot is the religious superior of a monastery of an early Christian religious order, such as the Benedictines and Cistercians. The term comes from the Aramaic word abba, which means father. Young Egyptian monks first used the title in the early 300’s. These monks would seek an older monk or a hermit of the desert, whom they called abba, to teach and guide them. In the 500’s, the Benedictine order established the title for the monk who had authority over other monks and monastic property.
In early times, monks often appointed an abbot for life. In the Middle Ages, abbots were often appointed by civil officials. Today, monks elect an abbot, usually to serve a limited term. Abbots are generally independent of the local bishop. A woman who is the head of an abbey of nuns is called an abbess.
