Cloister

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A cloister (from Latin claustrum) is a part of cathedral, monastic and abbey architecture. A cloister consists usually of four corridors, with a courtyard or garth in the middle. It is intended to be both covered from the rain, but open to the air. The attachment of a cloister to a Cathedral church usually indicates that it is (or was once) a monastic foundation.

Cloistered (or "Claustral") life is also another name for the life of a monk or nun in the enclosed religious orders; the modern English term enclosure is used in contemporary Catholic church law^[1] to mean cloistered, and cloister is sometimes used as a synonym for monastery.

In medieval times, cloisters served the primary function of quiet meditation or study gardens.

The worldwide biggest cloister (12000 m²) is in the Certosa di Padula in southern Italy.

[edit] See also

• The Code of Canon Law, cf canons 667 ff.
• New Advent Encyclopaedia III ff. on "Nuns, properly so called
• "Cloister" in the New Advent encyclopaedia
• New Advent Encyclopaedia on "Religious Life

[edit] Notes

1. ^ The Code of Canon Law, Canon 667 ff. English translation copyright 1983 The Canon Law Society Trust [1]

[edit] External links

• Photos of Cloisters in Spain and Englandbr:Kloastr

ca:Claustre cs:Křížová chodba de:Kreuzgang es:Claustro eo:Klostro fr:Cloître it:Chiostro he:קלויסטר lb:Kräizgank nl:Kloostergang ja:回廊 no:Korsgang pl:Krużganek pt:Claustro sv:Korsgång zh:回廊