Discalced Carmelites. Archivio Generale

This is a pilot project for the digitization of archival documents regarding missions, kept in the general archives of the Discalced Carmelites in Rome. In this first phase, material related to Malta, Syria, Lebanon, and Israel will be digitized.

In 1593 the Pope granted the Discalced Carmelites (OCD) full legal independence from the Carmelite Order of the Ancient Observance (OCarm). The Order's expansion beyond Spain took place through the “Italian Congregation of St. Elias,” funded in 1600 after its separation from the “Congregation of Spain.” A third Congregation, that of Portugal, was added In 1773. The full reunification of the three Congregations took place in 1875. The General Archives of the Discalced Carmelites in Rome essentially holds the ancient documents related to the “Congregation of Italy,” while the archival funds of the “Congregation of Spain” were almost entirely absorbed by the Spanish State Archives after the suppressions of the 19th century.