Is the Order of the Most Holy Mary Theotokos an Order or Community?
A. As an Institute of Consecrated Life, the Order of the Most Holy Mary Theotokos is actually a hybrid, taking the best from both “Orders” and “Communities”. A religious order is an organization of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder’s religious practice. A religious community is an organization recognised by the Church whose members (commonly referred to as “religious”) strive to achieve a common purpose through formally dedicating their life to God.
