Monks and nuns helped to spread Christianity throughout Europe primarily through several key activities:
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Preserving the Works of Ancient Authors: Monasteries became centers of learning and literacy. Monks copied and preserved not just Christian texts but also works from antiquity, which helped to maintain and spread knowledge throughout medieval Europe.
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Living Communally and Keeping to a Strict Schedule of Prayer: Their communal lifestyle and rigorous daily routines of prayer contributed to a stable religious community, which attracted more followers and provided a model for Christian living.
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Missionary Activities: Many monks were sent out as missionaries to convert pagan peoples in various regions of Europe, including the British Isles and Northern Europe.
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Through Prayer and Manual Labor: The concept of "ora et labora" (pray and work) emphasized the importance of both spiritual and physical labor, which helped sustain communities and set an example of a disciplined, devout life.
In summary, all of these activities played a role in spreading Christianity, but the most direct impact on expansion would primarily be attributed to missionary activities.