This publication describes major monastic orders - religious and military-religious organizations of the Roman Catholic Church. Benedictines and Cartesians, Franciscans and Dominicans, Ioannites and Templars, Teutons and Jesuits pass through the pages of this book in a mysterious series of ascetics who have made serving God the main task of life. An important stage in the evolution of orders was the Crusades, during which spiritual knightly orders arose. The history of the orders is very exciting, and fate is difficult and tragic. Their significance in the events of the XII-XVI centuries. great, and the religious conflict between various faiths has not been settled to this day. The publication is well illustrated, has a fascinating and accessible presentation of the material.