The Cistercians, () officially the Order of Cistercians (, abbreviated as OCist or SOCist), are a Catholic religious order of monks and nuns that branched off from the Benedictines and follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. They are also known as Bernardines, after the highly influential Bernard of Clairvaux or as White Monks, in reference to the colour of the "cuculla" or cowl (choir robe) worn by the Cistercians over their habits, as opposed to the black cowl worn by Benedictines. The term Cistercian derives from Cistercium, the Latin name for the locale of Cîteaux, near Dijon in eastern France. It was here that a group of Benedictine monks from the monastery of Molesme founded Cîteaux Abbey in 1098, with the goal of following more closely the Rule of Saint Benedict. The best known of them were Robert of Molesme, Alberic of Cîteaux and the English monk Stephen Harding, who were the first three abbots. Bernard of Clairvaux
Los Cistercianos, oficialmente la Orden de los Cistercianos (, abreviado como OCist o SOCist), son un orden religioso católico de monjes y monjas que se ramificaron de los benedictinos y siguen el Régimen de San Benedicto. También son conocidos como Bernardinos, después del altamente influyente Bernardino de Clairvaux o como Monjes Blancos, en referencia al color de la "cuculla" o collar (ropa de coro) usado por los Cistercianos sobre sus costumbres, en contraste con el collar negro usado por los benedictinos. El término Cistercian deriva de Cistercium, el nombre latino para el local de Cîteaux, cerca de Dijon en el este de Francia. Fue aquí que un grupo de monjes benedictinos del monasterio de Molesme fundó Cîteaux Abbey en 1098, con el objetivo de seguir más estrechamente la Regla de San Benedicto.