A '''monastery''' is a building or structure or a series of buildings and structures that are set apart from regular civilization for religious commune. [[Monk]]s are the usual inhabitants and live in such structures after taking specific vows. The early centuries of [[Christianity]], especially in Africa, saw a thriving of monastic activity among the faithful. During the [[Middle Ages]] monastic institutions helped to preserve writings from [[antiquity]] that would otherwise have been lost.
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A '''monastery''' is a building or structure or a series of buildings and structures that are set apart from regular civilization for religious commune. [[Monk]]s are the usual inhabitants and live in such structures after taking specific vows. The early centuries of [[Christianity]], especially in Africa, saw a thriving of monastic activity among the faithful. During the [[Middle Ages]] monastic institutions helped to preserve writings from antiquity that would otherwise have been lost.