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THE CISTERCIAN ORDER
A founder of the Cistercian order became the Benedictine Robert of Molesme. The first order was found in the region named Cistercium (Citeaux in French) - hence the name of the order. Cistercians were split off from Benedictines in 1098 and they tried to fill the motto ORA ET LABORA - Pray and work.
The Cistercians (also known as White Monks) assumed the holy orders of Benedictines but they differed from them in the effort to be united and strongly connected organisation with the centre in Citeaux. They wanted to return to the original evangelical poverty and simplicity, which was reflected in rejection of the luxury and the ostentation of monastic architecture (monastic churches weren’t allowed to have steeples). Cistercian monks become famous as excellent farmers, agrarians and especially as builders. They founded their monasteries in uninhabited areas close to river streams.
