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Who are we?
We are monks (Greek: monos: alone, lonely)
There are many like this in East and West.
They all have their own particular face.
Here, in Westvleteren, we are called Trappists.
Centuries of history proceed this name.
Our distant roots are in the 6th century with saint Benedict (hence Benedictines)
Along the way we evolved into a separate Order.
That road passed via new monastic initiatives:
– in the 11th century Cîteaux (Latin: Cistercium – therefore: Cistercians)
– in the 17de century La Trappe (hence: Trappists)
Allow yourself five minutes time to look into our life…