Crusades contributed to a radical change of life in Europe.Besides that Christians began to get acquainted with the culture of the eastern countries and peoples, especially the Arabs, it has an opportunity to get rich quick.Thousands of pilgrims flocked to the Holy Land.Who would protect the Holy Sepulchre, and who become a wealthy landowner with a large number of servants.To protect travelers and these were initially established monastic orders.
Origin awards
Later, after the Europeans are accustomed to the expanse of Palestine, Knights of religious orders began to be divided in accordance with its objectives, on the mendicant, the Benedictines, the regular clergy and canons.
Some were covered by greed and power.They were able not only fabulously rich, but also to create their own state.For example, the latest is the Teutonic Order, but we'll talk about it further.
Augustinians
name of some religious orders was derived from the name of the saint, words and deeds are particularly revered founders were spelled out in the charter.
the term "Augustinians" Very few orders and congregations.But in general, all of them divided into two branches - the canons and brothers.The last still divided into bare and rekollektov.
This order was established in the middle of the thirteenth century, and in the middle of the sixteenth - added to the other three mendicant orders (Carmelites, Franciscans, Dominicans).
Charter was fairly simple and does not include any of cruelty and torture.The main purpose of the monks was the salvation of souls.By the sixteenth century, in the ranks of the Order it was about two and a half thousand monasteries.
None of what power, or the accumulation of wealth is not out of the question, so they were referred to as mendicant.
Barefoot Augustinians also broke away from the main flow in the seventeenth century and spread throughout Japan and East Asia.
hallmark of Augustinians is a black cassock and white cassock with a leather belt.Today, there are about five thousand.
Benedictines
history of monastic orders began with this group of churchmen.It was founded in the sixth century in the Italian municipality.
If you look at the way the development of this order, we see that got him to perform only two problems.The first - in part to extend its charter to most other organizations.Second - provide the basis for the formation of new orders and congregations.
According to the records, the Benedictines were initially small.The first monastery was destroyed at the end of the sixth century the Lombards, the monks settled throughout Europe.After secularization in the Middle Ages and the Reformation movement Order began to tend to its decline.
However, in the nineteenth century begins its sudden rise.Brothers in faith just found their niche.Now religious orders, members of this association are engaged in recovery and development of culture, as well as the missionary work in Africa and Asia.
At the end of the nineteenth century, they created a confederation, with the support of the Pope, in addition, it opened a university.Architecture and commerce, literature and music, art and medicine - is only a small part of the regions that developed in Europe thanks to the Benedictines.That Catholic monastic order in the era of the total decline in living standards and culture were able to preserve the remnants of "civilization" in the form of traditions, norms and practices.
Hospitallers
second name is "The Order of the Holy Spirit."This monastic organization, which lasted only six centuries - from the twelfth to the eighteenth century.
major activities of the Hospital was the treatment of the sick and wounded, as well as care for the elderly and orphans, the infirm and the destitute.That is why for them the name stuck.
Charter of the organization comes from the Augustinian Order.And they formed their own hospitals, first in France and then in other countries.
Each member of the monastic order was obliged to engage in charity.This concept includes nursing, the redemption of Christians from slavery, protect pilgrims, poor education, and many other good things.
In the seventeenth century the French king tried to use them to fund their own interests, for a payday of military veterans.But Rome has opposed such an eventuality.Since that time the decline ended in 1783, when the Order of the Hospitallers became a member of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem.
Dominicans
interesting feature of this organization is that a member of the religious order can be both a man and a woman.That is, there are Dominicans and Dominican, but they live in different monasteries.
Order was founded in the thirteenth century, and there are at the present time.Today its population is about six thousand people.The main feature of the Dominicans has always been a white robe.Herb is a dog carrying a torch in his mouth.Aims to educate the monks put and defend the true faith.
Dominicans are famous in two areas - science and missionary activity.Despite the bloody confrontation, they were able to make the first Archdiocese in Persia, master East Asia and Latin America.
When Pope for issues related to theology, it is always answers the monk of the Order.
During the heyday Dominicans had more than one hundred and fifty thousand people, but after the Reformation, revolutions and civil wars in different countries, their number has significantly decreased.
Jesuits
Probably the most controversial in the history of the Order of Catholicism.The focus put unquestioning obedience, "just a corpse," as stated in the statute.Military and religious orders, of course, played a huge role in the formation of many of the rulers of medieval Europe, but the Jesuits have always been famous for the ability to achieve results at any cost.
Order was founded in the Basque Country Loyola in 1491 and since then their connections entangled all civilized countries of the world.Intrigue and blackmail, bribery and murder - on the one hand, to safeguard the interests of the Church and Catholicism - on the other.These are the opposite faces have led to the fact that in the eighteenth century, the Pope officially disband the Order he did not exist forty years (in Europe).In Russia and some Asian countries have to operate.To date, the number of Jesuits has about seventeen thousand people.
Teutonic Order
One of the most influential organizations of medieval Europe.Though the military-monastic orders and sought to maximize the impact, not everyone got it.Teutons also went a roundabout way.They not only increase its power, but simply bought the land on which to build a fortress.
Order was founded on the basis of the hospital in Acre in the late twelfth century.Initially Teutons accumulating wealth and power, simultaneously taking care of the wounded and the pilgrims.But at the beginning of the thirteenth century they begin to march to the East under the banner of struggle against the Gentiles.Mastered Transylvania, driving Polovtsian to the Dnieper.Later captured Prussian land and form the state of the Teutonic Knights, with its capital in Marienburg.
Everything was for the benefit of the knights before the Battle of Grunwald in 1410, when the Polish-Lithuanian forces defeated them.Since that time the Order of the sunset.His memory restored only by German Nazis during the Second World War, declaring himself the traditions.
Franciscans
religious orders in Catholicism, as mentioned above, are divided into four groups.So, Minorite Order, founded in the early thirteenth century, was the first of the mendicant.The main goal of its members - preaching the virtues of asceticism and the principles of the gospel.
«gray brothers", "Cordeliers", "barefoot" - the nickname of the Franciscans in various European countries.They were rivals of the Dominicans and the Inquisition was headed to the Jesuits.In addition, many members of the Order held teaching positions at universities.
This monastic brotherhood appeared many areas, such as the Capuchins, tertsiarii and others.
Cistercians
second title - "Bernardine".This branch of the Benedictines, which separated in the eleventh century.The Order was founded at the end of the said century St. Robert, who has decided to lead a life fully meet the charter of the Benedictine monastery.But as in reality he did not work to achieve sufficient penance, he went into the desert Sieve, where lays the new monastery.At the beginning of the twelfth century, it adopted its charter and joins St. Bernard.After these events, the number of Cistercian sharply starts to grow.
In the era of the Middle Ages, they went around the other monastic orders in wealth and influence.No military action, only trade, production, education and science.Peace was received by the highest authorities.
Today, the total number of Bernardine ranges from two thousand.
