Alexians

Alexiana (or cellulite) ( lat.Congregatio Fratrum Cellitarum seu Alexianorum ) is a Catholic order. It arose at the beginning of the XIV century on the territory of modern Belgium during the time of severe epidemics of the plague and was originally called cellites (cellulitis) from cella (cell). Several lay people gathered under the leadership of Tobias (surname not known) to organize assistance to victims of the epidemic ^[1] . The movement of the Alexandians gradually spread to other European countries, their activities were successively approved by Gregory XI ( 1377 ), Boniface IX ( 1394 ) and Eugene IV ( 1431 ). Since 1459, those entering the order have made vows, and in 1472, Pope Sixtus IV granted the Order of St. Augustine . Since that time, the Aleksians wear a black monastic robe with a leather belt. The order was most widely used in Germany.

Alexians consider Alexy, the man of God, to be their patron saint. This name was assigned to the order from the 17th century by the church of the monastery of Marienber in Aachen . Alexians took care of the condemned to death, helped the mentally ill, buried the dead from the plague.

In 1941 - 1943, the Nazis expelled the Aleksians from hospitals, during the Second World War many of the brotherhood's possessions were destroyed. From 1946 - 1950, the main department of Alexander is located in Signal Mountain ( Tennessee , USA ). According to Annuario Pontificio in 1997, there were 124 people in the order ^[2] .