ANCHORITE, or AN'CHORET (Gk. avo anachoreffs, a recluse, retired man, from tied, ana, back + xupeiv, chdrein, to give way, retire). Literally, a. person who withdraws from society; a hermit. The name was applied to those hermits who began to appear in the Christian Church in the third century, living in solitude, and not, like the monks or cenobites, in communities. During the first two centuries. Christians generally thought it enough to with draw from the world by refusing to participate in heathen festivals and amusements; but ex treme views became gradually prevalent, and were connected with a belief in the merit of celibacy, of abstinence from particular kinds of food, of self-inflicted tortures, etc. The perse cutions to which Christians were subjected drove some into the solitude of deserts; after ward, the glory of a life spent in loneliness and austerity became a substitute for that of the martyr's death. The general corruption of soci ety also caused many earnest and well-meaning persons to shun it. The ascetics (:Ace ASCETI CISM) set the example of retiring from cities to rural districts and villages: the anchorites went further, and sought to withdraw themselves al together from mankind; and if the reputation of sanctity which was connected with a life of solitude constituted its chief attraction to some, there can be no doubt that many chose it in the hope of thereby attaining to real sanctity. Alany of the anchorites voluntarily subjected them selves to the vicissitudes of the weather, without proper habitation or clothing, restricted them selves to coarse and scanty fare, wore chains and iron rings, and some dwelt on the top of pillars for many years (see PILLAR SAINTS) as extraor dinary and conspicuous examples of mortification and penance, of whom the most famous is Saint Simeon Stylites in the early part of the fifth century. Saint Antony (q.v.) was one
of the first and most celebrated anchorites. The anchorites were not always able to preserve their solitude unbroken. The fame of their sanctity drew many to visit them; their advice was often sought; and the number of their vis itors was much increased by the belief that diseases, particularly mental db.,eases, were cured by their blessing. Sometimes, also, they returned for a short time to the midst of their fellow men to deliver warnings, instructions. or encouragements, and were received as if they had been inspired prophets or angels from heaven. The number of anchorites, however, gradually diminished, and the religious life of convents was preferred to that of the hermitage. The Western Church, indeed, at no time abounded in anchorites, like the Eastern, and perhaps the reason may in. part be found in the difference of climate, which renders a manner of life hit possible in most parts of Europe that could be pursued for many years in Egypt or Syria.