The Canons Regular of the Holy Cross of Coimbra were founded in Portugal in the 12th century. The Order was founded under the Rule of Saint Augustine, thus its members are classified as "Augustinians," as are all other Orders of Canons Regular. It was founded through the labors of St. Theotonius, Archdeacon Dom Tello, and Dom Juan Peculiar[1] in 1131.
Construction of its first monastery began on June 28, 1131, and the common life of the members of the Order began on February 25, 1132. It received official papal approval on May 5, 1135, from Pope Innocent II. Eventually all the various regional communities of canons regular in Portugal came to be a part of this Order.
Saint Anthony of Padua was a member of this Order before he left them to join the newly-founded Franciscans.[2] Saint Charles Borromeo was entrusted with the protection of the Order when he was a cardinal.[3] The Order was suppressed in 1834 by an anti-clerical Portuguese government.
In 1977, a movement called the Work of the Holy Angels began to work to restore the Order, which was approved in 1979 by Pope John Paul II.[4] The letters "O.R.C."' represent membership in this Order.