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
Last Updated : 13 July, 2023
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