Ordo Verbi Dei

Ordo Verbi Dei (Order of the Word of God).  Also known as the Order of Saint Jarlath, this cloistered contemplative Order was founded on the 6th day of January in the year 564, and spread rapidly throughout the Kingdom of Gwynedd, although not much beyond its borders. From the very beginning each of the monasteries of this Order was considered autonomous, with a Vicar General being elected at a general meeting to provide overall direction and leadership, and to adjudicate disputes between the local chapters. Thus, each abbey of this Order maintained its own local Rules and standards of dress, adhering only to the general principles written down by Saint Jarlath, the founder of the Order, plus any amendments to the Rule established by the agreement of all chapters at later general meetings.
The Order's many establishments included: the Mother House of Saint Jarlath's Abbey near Barwicke in the North Lendour Mountains, whose Abbot in the early 900s was Father Gregory of Arden, and whose habits featured burgundy for its Abbot, deep grey for its monks, and brown for its lay brothers; Saint Piran's Priory North of Saint Jarlath's and Valoret, whose Prior in the early 900s was Father Stephen, and whose habits featured white for its Prior, grey for its lay brothers, and black for its novices; Saint Foillan's Abbey in the Lendour Mountains Southeast of Valoret, whose Abbot in the early 900s was Father Zephram of Lorda and its Prior Father Patrick, and whose habits featured white for its Abbot and monks, and grey for its lay brothers; Saint Ultan's Priory on the Southwest coast of Mooryn; Saint Illtyd’s Priory on the River Carthane Northeast of Nyford; and Saint Stefan's Priory near Carbury.
Vicars General of this Order in the early 10th century included: Robert Oriss later Archbishop of Rhemuth, and his successor, Zephram of Lorda later Bishop of Cashien.  A choir drawn from different chapters of this Order provided the traditional hymn sung at the coronation of King Alroy on the 25th day of May in the year 917, the monks wearing burgundy habits for the occasion.  One of the best‑known monks of this Order was Brother Benedict of Saint Foillan's Abbey, later known as Cinhil I King of Gwynedd. 
[Camber of Culdi; Camber the Heretic; Deryni Challenge; The Harrowing of Gwynedd].