Globally there are numerous religions practised. The beliefs, rituals, practices, etc., are much more different from every other religion.
Key Takeaways
- Abbey refers to a monastery or convent where monks or nuns reside, whereas a cathedral is a church that serves as the bishop’s seat.
- Abbeys were built in remote areas, while cathedrals were built in the city’s center or town.
- Abbeys are smaller and simpler in architecture than cathedrals, which are larger and more ornate.
Abbey vs Cathedral
The difference between Abbey and Cathedral is that Abbey is a place where it serves many functions, while in a Cathedral, it is more used for worship only. The leader of the Abbey is an abbot, while on the other hand, the leader of the cathedral is a bishop or pope.
Abbey is another kind of monastery where the leader is known as abbot or abbess. An abbey is a religious place where Christian monks and nuns live.
Cathedral is used as a synonym for the church across the world. And to precisely define a cathedral, it can be stated that a place with a set for a bishop or pop is a cathedral.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Abbey | Cathedral |
|---|---|---|
| Etymology | Latin word ‘abbatia’ | Latin word ‘cathedra’ |
| Meaning | Means Father | Means Seat |
| Leader | Abbot | Bishop |
| More Like | Monastery | Church |
| Purpose | Serves various functions | Worship only |
What is Abbey?
Abbey is a place where Christian monks and nuns used to live in. It is considered as same as monasteries. That is why they both are used synonymously.
Some of them like having a separate monastery, a convent, a place where all the gifts are received from the offerors, a separate place for worship, a place for religious activities and functions, and many more.
If the in charge of the place or abbey is a Christian monk is called an abbot (spiritual father), but if by a nun, he is known as an abbess (spiritual mother).
What is Cathedral?
Cathedral is referred to as a Christian church that also has a seat for a bishop or pop. The cathedrals are more like a church. That is why they are synonymously used for one another.
Also, a cathedral with a seat of a bishop or pop is considered as the central church of the given particular area and is responsible for the fulfilment of the religious need.
The difference between a church and a cathedral is just the administrative part, which is given to a cathedral, not to a church.
Main Differences Between Abbey and Cathedral
- An abbey is more referred to as a monastery, while a cathedral is more like a church.
- The purpose of the abbey is to serve many functions, while the cathedral is only used for worship.
References
- https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.2307/766867?journalCode=ges
- https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/eb058206/full/html
- https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.7208/9780226668208-005/html
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00665983.1890.10852430?journalCode=raij20
I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS ♥️