BENEDICTINE CONGREGATION
On 6 December in the year of grace 1985, on the Feast of St. Nicholas, a Ukase was promulgated in the Roman Orthodox Jurisdiction of Holy Orthodoxy to found the "Orthodox Benedictine Order". Later coming to be known as the "Roman Orthodox Benedictines" or the "Roman Orthodox Benedictine Congregation".
December 6, 1985 Anno Domini
It is essential to act always, and in every manner appropriate, to ensure the stability, obedience and faithful service of the consecrated shepherds, pastors, and other ministers of Holy Church.
This Order of Orthodox Benedictines is established to comprise chapters of non-monastic clergy, known as canons, monastic men and women, and of lay religious brothers, sisters and oblates (oblati). We follow the ancient and venerable rule of St. Benedict, with appropriate modifications for these modern times and for the various states, manners, and vocations of men and women.
There are two characteristics of the Benedictine Regula which particularly recommended it for adoption by the Roman Orthodox Church.
First, this Order (Benedictine) uniquely requires the perpetual vow of stability. It was the stability of the church that was of most immediate and urgent concern, for it was, and is a fact and cause for sorrow that it has repeatedly proven to be in the nature of some church bodies to have untoward, disruptive, and scandalous movement among the ministers of the church from one jurisdiction to another, and from one body to another. This is scandalous to the laity and cannot be tolerated.
Second, Saint Benedict, of blessed memory, founded and established this Order precisely to provide a Rule which average people could follow; a "Rule for Beginners" which requires no extraordinary ascetical austerities; a Rule characterized by moderation, discretion, common sense, and holy obedience. This is entirely consistent with the goals and objectives of the Roman Orthodox Church. It was and is precisely the Rule necessary for our religious and clergy.
In accordance with the Canons and Constitution of the Roman Orthodox Church: The Roman Orthodox Benedictine Congregation (known also by the acronym ROBC) is the Roman Orthodox Order for men and women, with chapters for lay religious, monastics and non-monastic clergy. Appendix 6 of the Constitution of the Roman Orthodox Church comprises the Constitution of the Order of St. Benedict within the Roman Orthodox Church and contains the Canons pertaining thereto.
See Ukase 9- Register # 71 Church Registers - Apr. 14, 1985 through October 22,1986 containing numbers: 1 - 164.
The most ancient Office of the clergy at Rome, dating from the age of the early martyrs, was the Cathedral Office of Matins and Vespers. All other Hours are monastic Hours, added at a later time. Thus, non-monastics (Canons and Lay Brothers & Sisters) of the Roman Orthodox Benedictine Congregation may not be bound to more than the Cathedral Office.
This Office is contained within the "Roman Orthodox Breviary", which includes Psalms and prayers recommended by St. Benedict along with readings from the Holy Rule.
Roman Orthodox Benedictine Canons follow the ancient tradition of the early Roman Church as it gathered in the catacombs. Morning and evening prayers are celebrated daily, culminating in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist on Sunday.
Monastics are bound to a strict prayer rule, in which the entire Psalter (book of Psalms) are read each week. As a starting point in which to accomplish this task, eight prayer hours were formed (7+1). However, St. Benedict was not nearly so concerned with how an Abbot might instruct his monks to achieve the goal of a weekly Psalter, only that it be achieved.
Please read the following quote from St. Benedict: "We especially impress this, that, if this distribution of the psalms should perchance displease anyone, he arrange them if he thinketh another better, by all means seeing to it that the whole Psalter of one hundred and fifty psalms be said every week, and that it always start again from the beginning at
Matins on Sunday; because those monks show too lax a service in their devotion who in the course of a week chant less than the whole Psalter with is customary canticles; since we read, that our holy forefathers promptly fulfilled in one day what we lukewarm monks should, please God, perform at least in a week.
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In addition to the Psalter, the Monastics also read the Roman Orthodox Breviary (Cathedral Office) which includes additional prayers recommended by St. Benedict and readings from the Holy Rule. All Monastics in the Roman Orthodox Benedictine Congregation celebrate the Divine Liturgy daily.
Our Oblate program is for laity who choose to follow a pattern of Benedictine prayer and spirituality. These men and women support the Church through prayers of intercession, while working on their own spiritual advancement. Please click on the above link for more information regarding the Oblates.