Christian Cyclopedia

(de Floris; of Fiore [or Flora]; ca. 1130 [1145?]–ca. 1202). B. Celico, near Cosenza, Calabria; mystic; Cistercian*; founded monastery of St. John in Fiore, on Montenero, in La Sila mountains, S It. Best known for dividing hist. into 3 ages, of the Father (OT), of the Son (from Christ to ca. 1260), and of the Holy Ghost (beginning ca. 1260), the latter the time of the eternal Gospel, of prayer, song, and contemplation, the monastic age par excellence. Followers called Joachimites. Influence declined when 1260 failed to usher in the age of the Holy Ghost. See also Apocalyptic Literature; Spirituals, Franciscan.