An Introduction to Monastic Orders in the Middle Ages
Discover the major monastic orders that shaped medieval Europe, from Benedictines and Cistercians to Franciscans and Templars. This guide explores their origins, ideals, and lasting influence.
When Medieval Nuns Stopped a Papal Construction Site: The Turbulent Story of the Basilica of Saint-Urbain in Troyes
Discover the dramatic story of how a powerful abbess and her nuns defied the papacy and halted the construction of a major Gothic basilica in 13th-century Troyes, France.
Daily Life in a Medieval Monastery
Discover the daily routines, rituals, and responsibilities of monks at Cluny Abbey in the 11th century. Daily Life in a Medieval Monastery offers a vivid look into food, clothing, prayer, hospitality, and the unique organization of one of medieval Europe’s most influential religious communities.
The Debate about Underwear among Medieval Monks
What did medieval monks wear under their habits? This study explores how underwear became a source of debate, modesty, and controversy in monastic life.
A Vision from Heaven: The Dream That Inspired Cluny’s Great Church
Discover how a divine vision experienced by the monk Gunzo inspired the construction of Cluny III, the largest church in medieval Christendom. A story of faith, architecture, and the heavenly mandate that shaped a monastic masterpiece.
Tiny Edens: What Grew in a Medieval Monastery’s Garden
Explore five key elements of medieval monastery gardens, from sacred plants to healing herbs, and learn how they shaped monastic life and worship.
20 Essential Tools of a Medieval Scribe
From ink-stained fingers to feline assistants, medieval scribes relied on an eclectic mix of tools to craft their manuscripts—some practical, some unexpected.
New Medieval Books: The Romance of Mont St. Michel
In the mid-twelfth century, Guillaume de St. Paier decided to write a history of the famous abbey of Mont St.Michel in verse. This book offers the first complete translation of this text which relates the miracles and legends associated with this monastery.
The Kidnapping Scandal at Amesbury Priory
In 1400, a monastic power struggle at Amesbury Priory took a shocking turn when the ousted prior hired a gang to kidnap the prioress. What followed was a scandal of betrayal, lawsuits, and royal intervention—one of the wildest church disputes of the Middle Ages.
How to Live Like a Monk in Stressful Times – The Medieval Podcast, Episode 280
It’s safe to say that this moment in history is proving to be a stressful one, leaving many of us feeling anxious and…
New Medieval Books: The Monastic World
This book introduces the reader to monks and monasteries in medieval Europe, detailing the evolution of this important institution in Christianity. It explores how monasticism transformed over the centuries, adapting to different contexts and taking on diverse forms.
Fixing the Liturgy with CJ Jones – The Medieval Podcast, Episode 272
This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with CJ Jones about Dominican nuns, their theological sophistication, and how left their own unique mark on the Middle Ages.
Templars on the Run: Myths, Facts, and What Really Happened
One of the richest seams for conspiracists is the idea that there were large numbers of ‘Templar renegades’ roaming around Europe and the Middle East in the aftermath of the order’s suppression, doing whatever outlandish idea might come to mind in a pub.
New Medieval Books: Cistercian Horizons
This open-access book contains 18 articles about the Cistercians, one of medieval Europe’s most important monastic orders. The essays examine how these monks operated and the many manuscripts they left behind.
New Medieval Books: Hariulf’s History of St Riquier
This translation explores the evolution of a monastic community from its founding in the seventh century up to the year 1088. Historians will find that Hariulf wrote about a wide variety of topics, from Viking attacks to everyday life of his fellow monks.
New Medieval Books: Monasticism in Ireland
This book explores the functioning of monasteries in Ireland during the High Middle Ages and their integral role in the country’s religious life. It addresses the key question: ‘How monastic was the monastic church, and what was its relationship to the church of the laity?’
New Medieval Books: Monastic Women and Secular Economy in Later Medieval Europe, ca. 1200 to 1500
This book uncovers the economic influence of female monasteries in medieval society, revealing how they played a central role in shaping the economy.
Medieval Church Discovered in Bulgaria
Archaeologists have uncovered the 14th-century church of the medieval monastery of St. Theodosius of Tarnovski near Veliko Tarnovo, in northern Bulgaria, shedding light on the rich historical legacy of the region.
Saint Catherine’s Monastery Offers Certified Replicas of Iconic Byzantine Art
For the first time in its 1,500-year history, Saint Catherine’s Monastery is offering certified replicas of its most famous Byzantine icons. These replicas, available in actual size and true-to-life color, allow people worldwide to own a piece of this sacred art.
New Medieval Books: Radegund
The story of Radegund, a 6th-century princess who would find herself being married to the man who had killed her family. From high politics in the Merovingian Empire to the creation of a monastery, Radegund’s life is a very interesting tale.
Women and the Mount Athos in the Byzantine Period
My topic this evening is women and Mount Athos in the Byzantine period and I emphasize the conjunction and women and Mount Athos, not women on Mount Athos.
Own a Piece of History: 13th-Century Burnham Abbey for Sale
Burnham Abbey, a 13th-century monastic estate in Buckinghamshire, is now on the market for £3.5 million. The historic Grade I listed property, one of England’s finest medieval monasteries, is being sold by the Society of the Precious Blood through Knight Frank.
Medieval Graves Unearthed at Germany’s Posa Monastery
Ongoing excavations at Posa Monastery in eastern Germany have uncovered significant historical findings, including graves, a chapter house, and a 10th-century church connection.
Remains of warrior monks (including one woman) discovered in Spain
Researchers in Spain exploring a castle’s cemetery have discovered the remains of 25 people from a medieval military order. Amidst these burials, they also found a woman who could also have been a warrior.
