Novice
Encyclopedia
A novice is a person or creature who is new to a field or activity. The term is most commonly applied in religion and sports.
In many Buddhist
orders, a man or woman who intends to take ordination must first become a novice, adopting part of the monastic code indicated in the vinaya
and studying in preparation for full ordination. The name for this level of ordination varies from one tradition to another. In Pali, the word is samanera
, which means 'small monk' or 'boy monk'.
and tradition
, is a prospective member of a religious order
who is being tried and being proven for suitability of admission to a religious order of priests, religious brothers, or religious sisters, whether the community is one of monk
s or has an "active" ministry. After initial contact with the community, and usually a period of time as a postulant
(a more or less formal period of candidacy for the novitiate), the person will be received as a novice in a ceremony that most often involves being clothed with the religious habit
(traditional garb) of the particular religious community. The novice's habit is often slightly different from those of professed members of the order. For instance, in communities of women that wear a dark veil
over the head, novices often wear a white one; among Franciscan
communities of men, novices wear an additional shirt-like chest piece over the traditional Franciscan robe; Carthusian
novices wear a dark cloak over the usual white habit; etc.
Novices are not admitted to vows
until they have successfully completed the prescribed period of training and proving, called the novitiate
. This usually lasts one year, the minimum required by Canon Law, though in some orders and communities it is two. Novices typically have dormitories in separate areas within a monastery
or community and are under the direct supervision of a novice master or novice mistress.
(Abbot
) or Hegumenia (Abbess
) after at least three days in the monastery. There is no formal ceremony for the clothing of a novice; he (or she) would simply be given the Riassa, belt and Skoufos. Novice nun
s additionally wear a veil (apostolnik
) that covers the head and neck. A novice is also given a prayer rope
and instructed in the use of the Jesus Prayer
. In large communities, the new novice may be assigned a Starets
(spiritual father or spiritual mother) who will guide his spiritual development. Frequent confession of sins and participation in the Sacred Mysteries
(Sacraments) of the Church is an important part of Orthodox monastic life.
A novice is free to leave the monastery at any time, and the superior is also free to dismiss the novice at any time if, for instance, he or she feels the novice is not called to monasticism or if there have been discipline issues. If, however, the novice perseveres, after a period of around three years the Hegumen may choose to clothe the him in the first (beginning) rank of monasticism: the Rassaphore.
, a novice
is a horse that has not won a race under a particular code (either chasing or hurdling) before the current season. Another term is maiden
. It also sometimes refers to a race for two-year-old horses that have not won more than twice.
In figure skating competition
s, novice has two meanings. For the U.S. Figure Skating Association, it refers to a skill level, while the International Skating Union
uses it to designate age.
Novice is a level of minor hockey in Canada. Novice players are usually between the ages of 7 and 8.
In the sport of crew (rowing
), the term is used for an athlete in their first year of competition.
Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
orders, a man or woman who intends to take ordination must first become a novice, adopting part of the monastic code indicated in the vinaya
Vinaya
The Vinaya is the regulatory framework for the Buddhist monastic community, or sangha, based in the canonical texts called Vinaya Pitaka. The teachings of the Buddha, or Buddhadharma can be divided into two broad categories: 'Dharma' or doctrine, and 'Vinaya', or discipline...
and studying in preparation for full ordination. The name for this level of ordination varies from one tradition to another. In Pali, the word is samanera
Samanera
A samanera ) may be translated as novice monk in a Buddhist context. The literal meaning is 'small samana', that is, small renunciate where 'small' has the meaning of boy or girl. In the Vinaya monastic discipline, a man under the age of 20 cannot ordain as a bhikkhu, but can ordain as a samanera...
, which means 'small monk' or 'boy monk'.
Roman Catholicism
A novice in Roman Catholic canon lawCanon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
and tradition
Tradition
A tradition is a ritual, belief or object passed down within a society, still maintained in the present, with origins in the past. Common examples include holidays or impractical but socially meaningful clothes , but the idea has also been applied to social norms such as greetings...
, is a prospective member of a religious order
Religious order
A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practice. The order is composed of initiates and, in some...
who is being tried and being proven for suitability of admission to a religious order of priests, religious brothers, or religious sisters, whether the community is one of monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
s or has an "active" ministry. After initial contact with the community, and usually a period of time as a postulant
Postulant
A postulant was originally one who makes a request or demand; hence, a candidate. The use of the term is now generally restricted to those asking for admission into a monastery or a convent, both before actual admission and for the length of time preceding their admission into the novitiate...
(a more or less formal period of candidacy for the novitiate), the person will be received as a novice in a ceremony that most often involves being clothed with the religious habit
Religious habit
A religious habit is a distinctive set of garments worn by members of a religious order. Traditionally some plain garb recognisable as a religious habit has also been worn by those leading the religious eremitic and anachoritic life, although in their case without conformity to a particular uniform...
(traditional garb) of the particular religious community. The novice's habit is often slightly different from those of professed members of the order. For instance, in communities of women that wear a dark veil
Veil
A veil is an article of clothing, worn almost exclusively by women, that is intended to cover some part of the head or face.One view is that as a religious item, it is intended to show honor to an object or space...
over the head, novices often wear a white one; among Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
communities of men, novices wear an additional shirt-like chest piece over the traditional Franciscan robe; Carthusian
Carthusian
The Carthusian Order, also called the Order of St. Bruno, is a Roman Catholic religious order of enclosed monastics. The order was founded by Saint Bruno of Cologne in 1084 and includes both monks and nuns...
novices wear a dark cloak over the usual white habit; etc.
Novices are not admitted to vows
Religious vows
Religious vows are the public vows made by the members of religious communities pertaining to their conduct, practices and views.In the Buddhist tradition, in particular within the Mahayana and Vajrayana tradition, many different kinds of religious vows are taken by the lay community as well as by...
until they have successfully completed the prescribed period of training and proving, called the novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
. This usually lasts one year, the minimum required by Canon Law, though in some orders and communities it is two. Novices typically have dormitories in separate areas within a monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
or community and are under the direct supervision of a novice master or novice mistress.
Eastern Orthodox Church
In the Orthodox Church, a candidate may be clothed as a novice (Slavonic: послушник, poslushnik, lit. "one under obedience") by the HegumenHegumen
Hegumen, hegumenos, igumen, or ihumen is the title for the head of a monastery of the Eastern Orthodox Church or Eastern Catholic Churches, similar to the one of abbot. The head of a convent of nuns is called hegumenia or ihumenia . The term means "the one who is in charge", "the leader" in...
(Abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
) or Hegumenia (Abbess
Abbess
An abbess is the female superior, or mother superior, of a community of nuns, often an abbey....
) after at least three days in the monastery. There is no formal ceremony for the clothing of a novice; he (or she) would simply be given the Riassa, belt and Skoufos. Novice nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
s additionally wear a veil (apostolnik
Apostolnik
An apostolnik or epimandylion is an item of clerical clothing worn by Orthodox Christian and Eastern Catholic nuns. It is a cloth veil that completely covers the head , neck, and shoulders similar to the hijab worn by Muslim women, it is usually black, but sometimes white...
) that covers the head and neck. A novice is also given a prayer rope
Prayer rope
A prayer rope is a loop made up of complex knots, usually out of wool or silk....
and instructed in the use of the Jesus Prayer
Jesus Prayer
The Jesus Prayer or "The Prayer" is a short, formulaic prayer esteemed and advocated within the Eastern Orthodox church:The prayer has been widely taught and discussed throughout the history of the Eastern Churches. It is often repeated continually as a part of personal ascetic practice, its use...
. In large communities, the new novice may be assigned a Starets
Starets
A starets is an elder of a Russian Orthodox monastery who functions as venerated adviser and teacher. Elders or spiritual fathers are charismatic spiritual leaders whose wisdom stems from God as obtained from ascetic experience...
(spiritual father or spiritual mother) who will guide his spiritual development. Frequent confession of sins and participation in the Sacred Mysteries
Sacred Mysteries
The term sacred mysteries generally denotes the area of supernatural phenomena associated with a divinity or a religious ideology.-Pre-Christian religious mysteries:...
(Sacraments) of the Church is an important part of Orthodox monastic life.
A novice is free to leave the monastery at any time, and the superior is also free to dismiss the novice at any time if, for instance, he or she feels the novice is not called to monasticism or if there have been discipline issues. If, however, the novice perseveres, after a period of around three years the Hegumen may choose to clothe the him in the first (beginning) rank of monasticism: the Rassaphore.
Sports
In National Hunt racingNational Hunt racing
National Hunt racing is the official name given to the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland in which the horses are required to jump over obstacles called hurdles or fences...
, a novice
Novice (racehorse)
A novice in National Hunt horse racing is a horse which has not won in a particular type of race prior to the start of the current season. A novice hurdler has not won a hurdle race before the start of the current season, while a novice chaser has not won a steeplechase before the start of the...
is a horse that has not won a race under a particular code (either chasing or hurdling) before the current season. Another term is maiden
Maiden race horse
A Maiden race horse is the term that refers to a race horse that has yet to win a single race. The races are generally run for younger more inexperienced horses at two and three. However, many maidens never "break their maiden", and will continue to race at later ages, often retiring winless.Zippy...
. It also sometimes refers to a race for two-year-old horses that have not won more than twice.
In figure skating competition
Figure skating competition
-International:* International competitions sanctioned by the International Skating Union. These competitions are held using ISU rules; skaters are entered by their respective national skating federations....
s, novice has two meanings. For the U.S. Figure Skating Association, it refers to a skill level, while the International Skating Union
International Skating Union
The International Skating Union is the international governing body for competitive ice skating disciplines, including figure skating, synchronized skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating. It was founded in Scheveningen, Netherlands in 1892, making it one of the oldest international...
uses it to designate age.
Novice is a level of minor hockey in Canada. Novice players are usually between the ages of 7 and 8.
In the sport of crew (rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
), the term is used for an athlete in their first year of competition.