Brothers who live the life according to the rule of St. Augustine and who continue the life whose direction was shown by their founder, St. Norbert.
Since 1143, when the first Premonstratensian monastery in the Czech lands was founded on the western side of Petřín Hill, known as Strahov, the "White Brothers," as the Premonstratensian monks are sometimes referred to, have become an integral part of the spiritual and cultural history of the Czech lands. Strahov, which its founders, Prince Vladislav II and Bishop Jindřich Zdík of Olomouc, named "Sion," has been a center of learning and culture throughout its history, and equally a spiritual center – a place where people come to meet God, through liturgical celebrations and thus hear the voice of God. This is what Strahov was in ancient times, and what Strahov strives to be today. The Strahov Abbey Basilica is also the place where the relics of its founder – Saint Norbert – were transferred in 1627, making Strahov a sort of spiritual center for him.
The lifestyle of the Premonstratensians is inspired by the community founded by St. Augustine of Hippo (354 – 430) near his episcopal house in Hippo. He gathered a community of like-minded brothers for whom he wrote a set of life rules, known as the rule. This ancient rule is the foundation of our way of life today, although it requires adaptations to contemporary conditions.
On the following pages, we would like to briefly introduce you to the history of the Premonstratensian order, as well as to life in the monastic community, Premonstratensian spirituality, and the community of the third order. The third order consists of Christians who continue to live in the world but have decided to join the Premonstratensian order by incorporating some elements of its life into their own.
