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There are threthree '''monastic ranks''': The the '''Rassaphore''', the '''Stavrophore''', and the '''Schema-Monk''' (or Schema-Nun). Each of the three degrees represents an increased level of [[asceticism]]. In the early days of [[monasticism]], there was only one level—the Great Schema.

__TOC__The process of becoming a [[monk]] or [[nun]] is intentionally slow, as the [[vows]] taken are considered to entail a life-long commitment to [[God]], and are not to be entered into lightly. After completing the novitiate, there are three ranks within monasticism. There is only one monastic habit in the Orthodox Church (with certain slight regional variations), and it is the same for both monks and nuns. Each successive grade is given a portion of the habit, the full habit being worn only by those in the highest grade, known for that reason as the "Great Schema,", or "Great Habit." One is free to enter any [[monastery]] of one's choice; but after being accepted by the [[abbot]] (or abbess) and making vows, one may not move from place to place without the blessing of one's ecclesiastical superior.

'''Great Schema''' (Greek: ''Megaloschemos'', Slavonic: Схима, ''Schima'') — Monks whose abbot feels they have reached a high level of spiritual excellence reach the final stage, called the [[Great Schema]]. The tonsure of a ''Schemamonk'' or ''Schemanun'' follows the same format as the Stavrophore, and he makes the same vows and is tonsured in the same manner. But in addition to all the garments worn by the Stavrophore, he is given the ''analavos'' (Slavonic: ''analav'') which is the article of monastic vesture emblematic of the Great Schema. For this reason, the analavos itself is sometimes itself called the "Great Schema". It drapes over the shoulders and hangs down in front and in back, with the front portion somewhat longer, and is embroidered with the instruments of the Passion and the [[Trisagion]]. The Greek form does not have a hood, the Slavic form has a hood and lappets on the shoulders, so that the garment forms a large cross covering the monk's shoulders, chest, and back. Another piece added is the ''Polystavrion'' or "Many Crosses", which consists of a cord with a number of small crosses plaited into it. The polystavrion forms a yoke around the monk and serves to hold the analavos in place and reminds the monastic that he is bound to Christ and that his arms are no longer fit for worldly activities, but that he must labor only for the [[Kingdom of Heaven]]. Among the Greeks, the mantle is added at this stage. The paramandyas of the Megaloschemos is larger than that of the Stavrophore, and if he wears the klobuk, it is of a distinctive thimble shape, called a koukoulion'', the veil of which is usually embroidered with crosses.

In the [[Church of Alexandria (Coptic)|Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria]] there are only two degrees of professed monks, corresponding to the Rassaphore combined with the Stavrophore and the Great Schema . (There is nothing equivalent to separate Stavrophore status in the Coptic tradition).

The two rites of Rasaphore Rassaphore and Stavrophore are served one immediately following the other, as a single service, very seldom nowadays to be separated by several years. When the two rites are separated, the portions of the habit that were given in the previous rite are not given a second time in the latter rite.

[[Category: Monastics]]