A term in the Middle Ages denoting the lesser monastic officials appointed by the superior more or less permanently, and possessing extensive powers in their own departments. The usual classiftcation of obedientiaries, varying however in some monasteries, includes the cantor or precentor, assisted by the subcantor or succentor, the sacrist or sacristan, assisted by the subsacrist, treasurer, and "revestiarius," the cellarer or bursar, aided by the sub-cellarer and the "granatorius," the refectorian, the kitchener, the novice-master and his assistant, the zelator, the infirmanan, the guest-master, the almoner, and the chamberlain or "vestiarius." Certain other officials were appointed weekly, including the hebdomadarian, or priest of the week, the antiphoner, the weekly reader, and the servers in kitchen and refectory.
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