Christians

410 to 529 AD
In 525 Dionysius Exiguus introduces a calendar based on the birth of Jesus Christ

529 The monastery at Monte Cassino is founded

St. Benedict of Nursia (c.480-c.550) was known as the "Patriarch of Western Monasticism." He studied in Rome. He withdrew from the world when the licentiousness of society led him to become a hermit in a cave at Subiaco. He is said to have established a group of monasteries in the area. He left Subiaco and moved with a small band of monks to Monte Cassino. Here he elaborated his plans for the reform of monasticism and composed his Rule, which is marked by prudence an humanity and is an individual directory of the spiritual and administrative life of a monastery.

535-540 Benedict's Rule Composed for Monte Cassino, a Synabotic order under an Abbot, it is a division of the day for the life of a monk. 4.5 hours Opus Dei; 6 hours Manual Labor; 3 hours Reading.

Monastic Studies

590 to 599
Gregory the Great is elected Pope in 590