An icon of Julian of Norwich. (Photo: Julian Centre)8 May is the traditional day to remember Mother Julian of Norwich. She is important because her book remains a classic of Christian spirituality and is the first book in English known to have been written by a woman. This is her story …
Anchorites
One class of hermit was the reclusive anchorites, who took a vow of poverty, a vow of chastity, and a vow to be anchored to one place. The term ‘anchorite’ comes from the Greek word άναχωρητής (anachoretes). These were men or women who lived in a cell or room, also called anchorholds, attached to a church to devote their lives to prayer. Being anchored to one spot, they were called anchorites, and female anchorites, who were more common, were known as anchoresses. Many churches had them, and they would have been connected to a priory, but instead
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