The term cloister is applied to a monastic establishment; a place for retirement from the world for religious duties.
Cloister is a generic term, and denotes a place of seclusion from the world for persons who devote their lives to religious purposes. It differs from a convent in that the distinctive idea of a cloister is that of seclusion from the world, while that of a convent is a community of living. Both terms denote houses for recluses of either sex.
A cloister or convent for monks is called a monastery; for nuns, a nunnery. An abbey is a convent or monastic institution governed by an abbot or an abbess; a priory is one governed by a prior or a prioress, and is usually affiliated to an abbey. Research Cloister
Recluses is the name given to men and women who, in pre-reformation times, left the world to live a life of prayer and contemplation, dwelling in a cell, usually attached to a church, sometimes with the precincts of a monastery. They were also called anchorites and anchoresses. The recluse was enclosed in the cell by the bishop, the entrance was bricked up, and he sealed it with his ring, and except in case of serious illness, it was not reopened until the death of the inmate. A special office for the enclosing of anchorites is found in the Sarum missal, and also in Bishop Lacy's pontifical. The size of the cell varied: the Bavarian rule for solitaries ordered it to be 3.65 metres square and to be built of stone. It generally had three windows - one looking into the church, at which the recluse could assist at mass and receive holy communion; one glazed with horn or glass, for admitting light; one grated, closed with a shutter, and curtained, through which food was supplied, and visitors received. Research Recluses
Sado-masochism is a form of sexual activity involving actual or simulated pain so as to enhance sexual pleasure. Various forms are common, including at the gentle end of the spectrum back scratching during intercourse, through corporal punishment (spanking) and flagellation, ranging to the use of devices such as nipple clamps, whips, and more severe forms of pain. It should be emphasised that the whole point of sado-masochism is not of pain, but of pleasure for all (usually two) parties involved. The popular misconception that sado-masochism is about hurting one's partner is a naive fallacy. Rather, due to the complex nature of the relationship between pain and pleasure centres in the brain, many people find a little pain during sexual intercourse enhances their pleasure - for example having their back scratched. Generally, parties involved in sado-masochistic sexual activities enjoy both the dominant and receptive roles, and may also partake of other associated sexual activities such as bondage, slave and master games, humiliation and so on. Flagellation as a means of sexual activity, either solo for masturbation or with other parties has been practised for thousands of years, and was formerly (and may still be) very popular with religious recluses and monks. Under current UK law, any form of sado-masochistic sexual activity partaken of between consenting adults, in private or otherwise is illegal, and constitutes assault (the law stating that one cannot consent to assault unless in a sports scenario, such as boxing). Research Sado-masochism
The Caloyers are Greek monks, belonging to the order of St Basil, who lead a very austere life. Their most celebrated monastery in Asia is at MountSinai; in Europe at MountAthos. They do not all agree as to their mode of life. Some of them are cenobites; that is, they live in common. Others are anchorites, living alone, or with only one or two companions; and others again are recluses, who live in grottoes or caverns in the greatest retirement, and are supported ly alms supplied to them by the monasteries. Research Caloyer
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Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Cloister
